Russia Starts Serial Production of Tsirkon Hypersonic Cruise Missile for Navy

Russia’s Military-Industrial Corporation Research and Industrial Association of Machine Building (MIC NPO Mashinostroyenia) has reportedly started serial production of Tsirkon hypersonic missiles for the country’s Navy.

"A serial production of Tsirkon missiles is underway at the NPO Mashinostroyenia, although state trials of this product’s surface launches will continue," a source close to the situation was quoted as saying by government-owned TASS News Agency.

On November 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that trials of the Tsirkon were nearly complete and the Navy would start receiving first of these missiles from next year. A month earlier, nuclear-powered Severodvinsk submarine test-fired Tsirkon from surface and submerged position in the White Sea for the first time.

The Tsirkon multi-purpose hypersonic missile is designated to strike sea and ground targets. Russia claims the missile is capable of flying at Mach 9 speeds and striking targets that are over 1,000km away. The country intends to arm its submarines and surface ships with Tsirkon hypersonic missile systems.