Russian navy set to test Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missile next year to attack targets at Mach-8 speeds

MOSCOW – The Russian Navy will be the first to field a hypersonic weapon system, according to a prominent military analyst. Popular Mechanics reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

9 Oct. 2019 -- The Russian navy will test its new Zircon missile sometime next year. The missile allegedly can fly at speeds in excess of 6,000 miles per hour.

Russian naval forces could use Zircon to launch lightning fast strikes against targets on land or as an anti-ship weapon against battle groups at sea -- including U.S. aircraft carriers -- knocking them out in minutes.

Hypersonic weapons travel between Mach 5 and Mach 10, and Zircon will reportedly fly at Mach 8, or 6,138 miles an hour. Zircon likely uses a scramjet, short for "supersonic combusting ramjet," for propulsion.

Related: Just in a nick of time: U.S. military researchers finally get serious about Mach 5 hypersonic weapons

Related: Northrop Grumman to build 15 GQM-163A Coyote supersonic sea skimming target drones for missile defense

Related: New avionics in Tu-22 Backfire bomber make it a nightmare for U.S. aircraft carriers

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics