Russian Zircon Hypersonic Missile Tests in Final Stage

Russia’s Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic missile which would be equipped on submarines and surface ships is in the final stages of testing.

"The tests are going on as planned and are at the final stage," Vladimir Pospelov, a member of the board of the Military-Industrial Commission and a member of the Marine Board under the government of Russia, was quoted as saying by state-owned RIA Novosti.

In March, a source in the military-industrial complex told Russian state media that flight trials of Zircon had been completed. State trials began earlier this month.

Two launches of the missile from an underwater carrier will take place this year. State trials of the same is scheduled for 2022. Serial deliveries of the missile will also start next year.

In October 2020, the lead frigate of Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov fired a Zircon for the first time at a sea target located in the Barents Sea.

The Zircon 3M-22 hypersonic missile was designed by NPO-machinostroeniya in Reutov in Moscow region. It is a part of 3K-22 (Zircon code) complex which NATO reports as SS-N-33. The missile can develop a speed of Mach 9 and fly at an altitude of 30-40 km where the range and speed increase as air resistance is smaller. Experts estimate the payload at 300-400 kg and the missile length at 8-10 meters. The missile is to be fired from universal vertical launchers 3S-14 on warships and submarines and from Bastion mobile coastal missile launchers.