Russia has confirmed a successful test of a new ship-based hypersonic missile, called the Tsirkon.
Some source in Russian defense industry claims that Russia has conducted another successful test of its ship-based hypersonic missile against naval targets at a distance of over several hundred kilometers.
Just a few days ago, CNBC has reported with reference to two people with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report, that Russia has conducted another successful test of its ship-based hypersonic missile.
According to CNBC, the last known test of the device, dubbed “Tsirkon,” was successfully conducted Dec. 10 and reached a top speed of Mach 8, approximately eight times the speed of sound, or about two miles per second.
On 21 December, Russian state media also stated that the missile’s trials began about four years ago and are continuing now from the coastal stand.
The Tsirkon hypersonic missile “repeatedly destroyed designated naval targets at the hypersonic speed,” the source added, declining to give the date of the latest trials.
With its expected adoption by Russian forces in 2022. The Tsirkon hypersonic missile has been developed by the Research and Production Association of Machine-Building.
According to open sources, the Tsirkon has a firing range of about 400km and can develop a speed of Mach 4-6, as various data suggest. As was reported earlier, Tsirkon missiles will be launched with the help of the universal shipborne vertical launching systems currently used for Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles. Such systems are mounted, in particular, on Project 20380 corvettes, Project 22350 frigates and Project 885 Yasen-class submarines.