Hypersonic Zircon becomes vital for the Russian Navy
The Russian Navy is preparing new flight tests of the Zircon cruise missile, Military Watch writes. it weapon Designed to fight enemy ships, capable of speeds up to M = 9 and maneuver in flight, making interception more difficult. Flight range - approx. 1000 km. In this regard, the Russian rocket is unique. Only the Chinese product YJ-100 shows similar range characteristics, however it has subsonic speed.
In the future in arsenals fleet Zircon will complement other anti-ship missiles. The most modern weapons of the Russian Navy are P-800 Onyx and 3M54 Caliber missiles with different speeds and flight ranges. The older P-700 Granite anti-ship missile system, which strikes targets at speeds of 2 M, is also preserved. For its time, it was a revolutionary new weapon, but now it is inferior to modern models.
In the field of shipbuilding, Russia relies on light and medium combat units with advanced weapons. An example of this is the frigate Admiral Gorshkov (pr. 22350) - with a displacement of 5400 t, it carries launchers with 72 cells for missiles of various types. Missile weapons of such a ship should consist of modern models for various purposes.
The Russian Navy is in no hurry to develop heavy platforms, such as cruisers and destroyers, but is actively building smaller ships. The construction of frigates with advanced anti-ship missiles becomes an asymmetric and effective response to larger and more numerous ships of a potential enemy.
For comparison, the British destroyer Type 45 costs approx. 1,3 billion dollars, has a displacement of 9400 tons and carries 48 cells for missiles. US Zumwalt destroyers cost about 7 billion dollars. With a displacement of 16000 tons, they carry 90 missiles. The most powerful anti-ship missiles of Great Britain and the USA are modern modifications of the Harpoon subsonic missile with a range of less than 300 km - and even less in previous versions.
The advantages of Zircon over such weapons are obvious. Just getting a rocket into the ship at speeds M = 8 is enough to disable it. Interception of such anti-ship missiles with modern air defense systems is virtually impossible. Thus, the Admiral Gorshkov and similar ships receive a decisive advantage over the main representatives of the fleets of third countries. The importance and prospects of such missiles can hardly be overestimated - they are becoming a key, vital component of the Russian Navy.
It is expected that the tests of the Zircon will be completed in the near future, and in the early twenties this missile will go into service. It should be distinguished by its high cost, which will affect the pace of production and deployment in the fleet. In this regard, the new anti-ship missiles will be deployed on the most advanced and efficient warships serving near the areas of possible armed conflict.
In the future in arsenals fleet Zircon will complement other anti-ship missiles. The most modern weapons of the Russian Navy are P-800 Onyx and 3M54 Caliber missiles with different speeds and flight ranges. The older P-700 Granite anti-ship missile system, which strikes targets at speeds of 2 M, is also preserved. For its time, it was a revolutionary new weapon, but now it is inferior to modern models.
In the field of shipbuilding, Russia relies on light and medium combat units with advanced weapons. An example of this is the frigate Admiral Gorshkov (pr. 22350) - with a displacement of 5400 t, it carries launchers with 72 cells for missiles of various types. Missile weapons of such a ship should consist of modern models for various purposes.
Project frigate 22350. Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The Russian Navy is in no hurry to develop heavy platforms, such as cruisers and destroyers, but is actively building smaller ships. The construction of frigates with advanced anti-ship missiles becomes an asymmetric and effective response to larger and more numerous ships of a potential enemy.
For comparison, the British destroyer Type 45 costs approx. 1,3 billion dollars, has a displacement of 9400 tons and carries 48 cells for missiles. US Zumwalt destroyers cost about 7 billion dollars. With a displacement of 16000 tons, they carry 90 missiles. The most powerful anti-ship missiles of Great Britain and the USA are modern modifications of the Harpoon subsonic missile with a range of less than 300 km - and even less in previous versions.
The advantages of Zircon over such weapons are obvious. Just getting a rocket into the ship at speeds M = 8 is enough to disable it. Interception of such anti-ship missiles with modern air defense systems is virtually impossible. Thus, the Admiral Gorshkov and similar ships receive a decisive advantage over the main representatives of the fleets of third countries. The importance and prospects of such missiles can hardly be overestimated - they are becoming a key, vital component of the Russian Navy.
Estimated appearance of the Zircon rocket
It is expected that the tests of the Zircon will be completed in the near future, and in the early twenties this missile will go into service. It should be distinguished by its high cost, which will affect the pace of production and deployment in the fleet. In this regard, the new anti-ship missiles will be deployed on the most advanced and efficient warships serving near the areas of possible armed conflict.
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