According to information published by Tass on August 25, 2021, flight tests of Zircon hypersonic missile from a submarine carrier - the Severodvinsk nuclear submarine - are scheduled to begin in September 2021, a source in the military-industrial complex told. These tests were originally planned for August.
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Artist rendering of Zircon hypersonic missile (Picture source: Pukamara)
Zircon flight design tests are also being actively carried out onboard the surface carrier - the Admiral Gorshkov frigate. Launches have already been carried out on both above-water and ground targets.
The Zircon is a Russian-made hypersonic missile designed to be launched by a ship and able to travel at speeds of between Mach 6 and Mach 8. The missile is reportedly capable of striking both ground and naval targets. It has a range of between approximately 250 (400 km) and 600 miles (965 km) and can be fired from the vertical launch systems mounted on cruisers Admiral Nakhimov and Pyotr Veliky, Project 20380 corvettes, Project 22350 frigates, and Project 885 Yasen-class submarines, among other platforms.
The Zircon missile can fly at a speed of Mach 8–Mach 9 (9,800–11,025 km/h). This has led to concerns that it could penetrate existing naval defense systems. Zircon exchanges information in flight and can be controlled by commands if necessary.
The Severodvinsk (K-560) is a Yasen class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine of the Russian Navy and the lead vessel of the class. The submarine was handed over to the Russian Navy in late December 2013. The flag-raising ceremony was held on 17 June 2014, marking its introduction into the Russian Navy.
