Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Alexei Krivoruchko told reporters that 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missiles will be armed with Project 1155 Marshal Shaposhnikov, a large anti-submarine ship and Project 949A Irkutsk multipurpose nuclear submarine.

Zircon will definitely be "

Recall, on October 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Zircons will also receive the head corvette of project 20385 “Thundering,” which is currently undergoing factory tests. It is assumed that he will be the first carrier of hypersonic missiles in the Navy.

Zircon will definitely be, ”said the head of state during a visit to the corvette and the Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad). Hypersonic missiles at the Thundering can be placed in the universal ship's firing complex (UKSK). Now it provides the launch of 3M-14 Caliber and 3M55 Onyx missiles.

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin during the inspection of the rattling corvette
  • RIA News
  • © Mikhail Klimentyev

UKKS is a container-containers located under the deck of the ship. The complex was developed at OJSC Design Bureau of Special Engineering (KBSM, St. Petersburg), which is part of the Almaz-Antey concern.

The overall dimensions of the UKKS allow it to be installed on offshore platforms of different displacement - small missile ships (RTOs), corvettes, frigates, BPCs, etc. In November 2017, the Izvestia newspaper, with reference to the High Command of the Russian Navy, announced the modernization of the UKKS. The updated complex (UKKS-M) will be able to use Zircons and anti-aircraft missiles.

In an interview with RT, the founder of the Military Russia portal, Dmitry Kornev, explained that anti-aircraft missiles through UKKS-M will be launched on ships where the 3K96-2 Polyment-Redut air defense system is installed. The capabilities of the system allow you to intercept targets at ranges up to 150 km, and in the future - up to 400 km.

The expert predicts that Polyment Redut will be installed on frigates of project 22350 under construction (Admiral of the Fleet Kasatonov, Admiral Golovko, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Isakov, Admiral Amelko, Admiral Chichagov) and corvettes of the project 20380 / 20385 (“Zealous”, “Strict”, “Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov”, “Sharp”, “Agile”).

“In addition, the Poliment-Redoubt, and with it the Zircons, are likely to receive naval strike ships that will undergo major repairs or upgrades. The possibility of launching anti-aircraft and cruise missiles from one firing complex is a logical and very necessary solution, to which our country has been moving since the late Soviet times, ”said Kornev.

As explained by the interlocutor of RT, the use of UKKS allows to rationalize the use of the internal space of the vessel. In addition, unification removes the need to direct budget funds to the development, production and operation of various launchers.

“In the foreseeable future, most of the strike ships of the Navy, with the exception of the RTOs, will be equipped with a firing system that allows the use of Caliber, Onyx, anti-aircraft missiles and Zircons,” says Kornev.

At the final stage

Experts interviewed by RT believe that information about the upcoming appearance of Zircon in the arsenal of Navy ships indicates that testing of this unique product is at the final stage. However, specific deadlines for the development of hypersonic missiles have not yet been reported.

During a press conference at MAKS-2019, General Director of Tactical Missile Corporation Corporation (KTRV) Boris Obnosov noted that the ammunition would be created within the period set by the customer.

  • Rocket launch from frigate Admiral Gorshkov
  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

On February 20, speaking with a message to the Federal Assembly, Vladimir Putin said that work on Zircon was proceeding successfully and would be completed as scheduled. As the president promised, the activities related to the arming of the rocket will not be costly.

On August 5, a statement by Vladimir Putin was published on the Kremlin’s website in connection with the US’s unilateral withdrawal from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty). In it, the Russian leader said that Zircon along with other weapons would allow Moscow to reliably fend off threats.

The lead developer of the marine hypersonic rocket is NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Zircon is capable of speeds of about 9 Machs (more than 9 thousand km / h). The range of destruction of sea and ground targets exceeds 1 thousand km. Other characteristics of the ammunition are not officially disclosed.

In December last year, the US television channel CNBC, citing a US intelligence report, reported that since 2015 Russia allegedly conducted five tests of Zircon.

“It is very likely that the funds capable of bringing down Zircon will not appear for a very long time. For this, the air defense system must have much greater computing capabilities than it is now. A lot of work is needed without a guaranteed positive result, and the Americans are well aware of this, ”said Vadim Kozyulin, professor at the Academy of Military Sciences and senior researcher at the Center for Political Studies of Russia, in an interview with RT.

He predicts that the scope of Zircon will be extremely wide. Hypersonic missiles will be included in the arsenal of nuclear missiles of Project 949A and Project 885M Yasen-M, as well as nuclear cruisers of Project 1144 Orlan and promising destroyers of Project 23560 Leader.

Zircon is an effective deterrent, primarily the United States, which has the largest fleet in the world. The missile will be capable of hitting aircraft carrier groups, large surface ships and ground targets. This is its main purpose. Even small ships of the Navy will receive very serious combat capabilities, ”the analyst emphasized.

In addition, according to Kozyulin, a ground version of Zircon will probably be created in Russia due to the collapse of the INF Treaty and the US’s reluctance to sit down at the negotiating table. According to the expert’s forecast, the modification of a hypersonic missile will not require significant funds.