Putin deploys new Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles to Atlantic

Putin sends hypersonic missiles to AtlanticSends of frigate with Zircon missilesPutin says no different energy has such weaponsRussia has used hypersonic missiles in UkraineThis content material was produced in Russia the place the legislation restricts protection of Russian army operations in Ukraine

MOSCOW, Jan 4 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin despatched a frigate to the Atlantic Ocean armed with new technology hypersonic cruise missiles on Wednesday, a sign to the West that Russia is not going to again down over the warfare in Ukraine.

Russia, China and the US are in a race to develop hypersonic weapons that are seen as a technique to acquire an edge over any adversary due to their speeds – above 5 instances the pace of sound – and manoeuvrability.

In a video convention with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Igor Krokhmal, commander of the frigate named “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov”, Putin stated the ship was armed with Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic weapons.

“This time the ship is provided with the most recent hypersonic missile system – ‘Zircon’,” stated Putin. “I’m certain that such highly effective weapons will reliably shield Russia from potential exterior threats.”

The weapons, Putin stated, had “no analogues in any nation on the planet”.

Greater than 10 months since Putin despatched troops into Ukraine, there isn’t any finish in sight to the warfare which has descended right into a grinding winter artillery battle that has killed and wounded tens of hundreds of troopers on either side.

Russia has additionally used hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles in Ukraine.

Together with the Avangard hypersonic glide automobile which entered fight responsibility in 2019, the Zircon types the centrepiece of Russia’s hypersonic arsenal.

Russia sees the weapons as a technique to pierce more and more refined U.S. missile defences which Putin has warned may someday shoot down Russian nuclear missiles.

ATLANTIC VOYAGE

Shoigu stated the Gorshkov would sail to the Atlantic and Indian oceans and to the Mediterranean Sea.

“This ship, armed with ‘Zircons’, is able to delivering pinpoint and highly effective strikes towards the enemy at sea and on land,” Shoigu stated.

Shoigu stated the hypersonic missiles may overcome any missile defence system. The missiles fly at 9 instances the pace of sound and have a spread of over 1,000 km, Shoigu stated.

The primary duties of the voyage have been to counter threats to Russia and to take care of “regional peace and stability collectively with pleasant international locations”, Shoigu stated.

A U.S. Congressional Analysis Service report on hypersonic weapons says that Russian and Chinese language hypersonic missiles are designed for use with nuclear warheads.

The goal of a hypersonic weapon is way more tough to calculate than for intercontinental ballistic missiles due to their manoeuvrability.

Past Russia, the US and China, a spread of different international locations are growing hypersonic weapons together with Australia, France, Germany, South Korea, North Korea and Japan, in line with the U.S. Congressional Analysis Service.

Reporting by Man Faulconbridge, +79856400243; enhancing by Philippa Fletcher

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.