China News Service, Beijing, July 31st. On the 31st local time, a military parade was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, to commemorate the 326th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian Navy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited the military parade in person. In addition to making a tough statement again, Russia will make every effort to protect its maritime borders, and also announced a big news——

　　The "Zircon" hypersonic cruise missile will be delivered to the Russian army within a few months.

On July 31, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at the Russian Navy Day military parade.

What is "Zircon"

　　Regarding the "Zircon" hypersonic cruise missile, Putin described it this way: "It is enough to mention the latest 'Zircon' hypersonic missile system. Now there is nothing comparable to it in the world. It is invincible."

On May 28, 2022, Russia successfully test-fired the "Zircon" hypersonic missile, which hit a target about 1,000 kilometers away.

　　This is not the first time Putin has praised "zircon".

After the successful test launch at the end of 2021, Putin once introduced that the new sea-based hypersonic missile "only takes 5 minutes from receiving the launch order to hitting the target."

　　Previously, Russian media also used words such as "unable to be intercepted by missile defense systems or air defense systems" and "unparalleled" to describe "Zircon" many times, saying that its test launch "makes the West horrified."

　　Judging from the information disclosed so far, the "Zircon" has a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers, a warhead weight of 400 kilograms, and a maximum speed of Mach 9 (equivalent to 9 times the speed of sound). A hypersonic cruise missile that continuously aerodynamically flies and maneuvers in the atmosphere with the thrust of its own engine.

　　In addition, the "Zircon" is Russia's first sea-based hypersonic cruise missile, which can be launched from frigates, cruisers and submarines, "capable of destroying all types of surface ships and ground targets."

In a test launch at the end of May this year, the "Zircon" hypersonic cruise missile launched from a warship in the Barents Sea successfully hit a maritime target in the White Sea waters about 1,000 kilometers away.

"Dagger" is out, "Zircon" is coming

　　As early as March this year, the Russian army used the "Dagger" hypersonic missile in a special military operation, destroying a large underground missile and aviation ammunition warehouse in Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defense released a video of the "Dagger" hypersonic missile attack on social media.

Image source: Screenshot of the video of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

　　At that time, the report of "the use of hypersonic weapons in actual combat for the first time in human history" caused great shock to the outside world. While "sour" Russia may have exaggerated the capabilities of the weapon, the Western media had to admit that the dagger brought Russia a psychological advantage. May mark a new phase in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

　　At this year's Navy Festival, Putin revealed that the "Marshal Gorshkov" frigate will be the first ship to be equipped with the "Zircon" hypersonic cruise missile system, and it will be selected according to Russia's security interests deployment area.

　　Earlier sources also said that the "Zircon" missile may enter the Russian Navy in September this year, equipped with surface ships.

　　Whether this hypersonic cruise missile, which will soon be equipped with the Russian army, will respond to violations of the sovereignty and freedom of the Russian Federation at a lightning speed, as Putin said, is still uncertain.

However, from the perspective of psychological shock and deterrence, it may have an impact on the stalemate situation between Russia and Ukraine, and even the balance of the world's strategic deterrence system.

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