Russia Tests New Zircon Hypersonic Cruise Missile Under Combat Conditions in Ukraine

The Russian Navy has test fired a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile against a target in Ukraine’s Sumy region, according to Ukrainain sources. The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the missile was launched from the area of Cape Chauda on the Crimean Peninsula “to strike critical infrastructure facilities,” indicating that this may have been the first known test from a ground-based launcher rather than a warship. The first combat test of the Zircon missile was announced in February 2024, with Russian President Vladimir Putin observing at the time: “The Zircon sea-launched hypersonic strike system has already been used in combat. It was not mentioned in the 2018 message. But this system, too, is already in service.” He added that the missile was capable of reaching Mach 9 speeds, and had a range of more than 1,000 kilometres, which comfortably surpasses the capabilities of all known non-Chinese missile types.

Although the Zircon was developed primarily as an anti-ship missile type, with a secondary capability against ground targets, Ukraine’s lack of even frigate sized surface vessels limits opportunities for testing against ships. The missile type is currently deployed from a number of Russian warship classes, with the first Yasen-M class nuclear powered attack submarine equipped with the missiles having been launched in March. The first launch of the Zircon from a Yasen Class ship was carried out in October 2021, with the missile’s 1000 kilometre ranges and Mach 9 speeds making them extremely challenging to intercept. The first surface ship to deploy the missile type, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, began its first combat duty in January 2023. With no new destroyer or cruiser sized ships having been laid down fro the Russian Navy since the USSR’s disintegration in 1991, the integration of the Zircon plays a critical role in keeping the country’s ageing fleet of ocean-going vessels somewhat viable.

Summarising the value of the Zircon missile as a force multiplier for the Russian Navy, then Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu previously stated: “A ship fitted with Zircons is capable of carrying out high-precision and powerful strikes on the enemy at sea and on land… The unique feature of Zircon hypersonic missiles is their guaranteed ability to bypass any existing or prospective air defence systems.” Alongside surface ships and submarines, a ground based mobile launch vehicle for the missiles is currently under development, with current tensions between Russia and NATO members expected to make the system’s service entry a priority. Unconfirmed reports have widely indicated that an air-launched variant of the missile is also under development to equip the country’s MiG-31I strike fighters, with the possibility of a miniaturised variant being developed for the new Su-57 stealth fighter having also been wide raised.