Amid its intensified military offensive in Ukraine, Russia says it has tested another hypersonic missile. The “Zirkon” missile was fired from a frigate in the Barents Sea at a target in the White Sea in the Arctic, the defense ministry said in Moscow on Saturday.
The target at a distance of about 1,000 kilometers “was successfully sighted,” it said. Russia first tested a “Zirkon” missile in October 2020, and more attempts have since followed. In March, Moscow announced that it had deployed Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missiles in western Ukraine. According to the state news agency RIA Novosti, its use was a novelty, previously only tests had been carried out.
Putin called zircon missile ‘invincible’
“Zirkon” and “Kinzhal” belong to a new class of weapons developed by Russia. President Vladimir Putin announced the development of the “Zirkon” missile in February 2019. At the time, he said the rocket, with a range of 1,000 kilometers, could reach nine times the speed of sound. The rocket was first tested in October 2020. Putin described Russia’s hypersonic missiles as “invincible”.
Hypersonic rockets can travel more than five times the speed of sound and are maneuverable in flight. This makes them difficult to detect and intercept for conventional air defense.
International competition flared up
An international race to develop hypersonic missiles has broken out, starring the US, Russia and China. A missile test by China in the summer of 2021 made headlines when newspapers reported that the missile itself fired a projectile at five times the speed of sound. The Wall Street Journal wrote at the time that this was a venture that “pushed the boundaries of physics.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
