Rocket "Zircon" and its carriers on the eve of adoption
This year, the Russian defense industry has completed work on a promising hypersonic missile system for surface ships Zirkon. Now the necessary procedures and measures are being carried out, as a result of which the complex will be officially adopted by the naval fleet. After that, the deployment processes of such weapons in order to protect maritime borders.
From unnamed sources
The start of flight design tests of the new 3M22 Zircon anti-ship missile became known in 2016 thanks to unnamed sources in the Russian press. Official reports on test launches appeared later, only in 2020. In 2021, work continued and moved to the stage of state tests. In addition, the first contract for the supply of missiles to the fleet was signed at the Army-2021 forum.
In mid-January of this year, domestic media reported that, according to the results of state tests, the Zircon complex for surface ships was recommended for adoption. At the same time, the final rocket launch as part of state tests took place only in May.
On July 18, the TASS agency revealed new information about the future adoption of the Zircon into service. From an unnamed source close to the Department of Defense, it learned that the missile would be received within the next five months, i.e. until the end of the year. The development organization, NPO Mashinostroeniya from the KTRV, is already mass-producing missiles.
Rocket exit from the launcher
On July 28, TASS clarified this information. This time, an anonymous source said that all the necessary documents had already been prepared. Thanks to this, the Zircon product can be officially adopted as early as September.
According to official data
New information about the Zircon was announced on July 31 during the Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg. President Vladimir Putin personally revealed it. In his celebratory address to the sailors, he mentioned that deliveries of new hypersonic missile systems to the fleet will begin in the coming months.
According to the president, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov will become the first combat carrier of the Zircons. In accordance with the interests of national security, an area will be selected in which the frigate will have to carry out combat duty with new weapons. Where exactly he will solve problems, the head of state did not specify.
rocket underwater
Anti-ship missiles "Zircon" is intended for both surface ships and submarines. Work on the underwater modification of the missile system is ongoing and is already at the stage of flight tests. The first launches of new products took place at the beginning of October 2021. The Severodvinsk multi-purpose nuclear submarine, pr. 885 Yasen, fired Zircons from the surface and underwater position with an interval of several hours. Both missiles successfully hit training targets.
Shortly after these launches, an approximate schedule for further work became known. The press reported that in the next two years or more, the necessary activities would be carried out without new launches. Flight tests will be resumed only in 2024. It is planned to use the Perm nuclear submarine of the updated project 885M as a new experimental missile carrier. Depending on the progress in its construction, some schedule adjustments are possible.
In 2024-25 the Zircon underwater complex will undergo state tests, as a result of which it will be put into service. More precise plans remain unknown. Probably, they will be named in the future, at the stage of state tests or preparation for them.
Weapon carriers
The frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov, the lead ship of Project 22350, became the platform for testing the Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missile. Full service in this role will begin in the coming months, possibly as early as early autumn.
It is obvious that other frigates of Project 22350 will also receive 3M22 missiles, as well as related instruments and software. At the moment, the Navy has only two such ships in its combat strength - the Admiral Gorshkov and the Admiral of the Fleet Kasatonov. Another six units are in various stages of construction, with the next two to be laid down this year.
The construction of such a series of frigates will continue until 2027-28. According to its results, the Northern, Pacific and Black Sea Fleets will have 10 ships capable of carrying hypersonic anti-ship missiles. In addition, an expansion of the 22350 project frigate series is expected in the near future. An improved project 22350M is also being developed. The implementation of these plans will further increase the missile potential of the Navy.
The first four frigates of Project 22350 receive the 3S14 universal firing system with 16 cells for various types of missiles. The following ships will receive twice as much ammunition. In the promising project 22350M, the number of cells will be increased to 64.
Rocket launch from the Severodvinsk on the surface, October 2021
It should be noted that in theory, not only frigates of project 22350 (M) can carry a new type of missile. The 3S14 firing system is used in a number of other projects, and each of its carriers will also receive the fundamental possibility of using Zircon. These can be modernized cruisers of project 1144, frigates of project 11356 or even small missile ships of project 21631 and 22800. What types of ships will receive hypersonic weapons will become known later.
Submarine Service
The first launches of the underwater modification of the 3M22 anti-ship missiles took place from the Severodvinsk combat submarine. According to news last fall, the next stage of testing will be carried out using the Perm submarine. The same ship, allegedly, in 2025 will become the first carrier of the Zircon in the combat composition of the Navy.
The nuclear submarine "Perm" should not remain the only underwater carrier of the new missile system. Accordingly, after 2025, all other ships of project 885 (M) will receive their Zircons. Three of these pennants are already in service with the Navy, and a fourth is expected to be handed over at the end of the year. Another five ships, including the Perm, are at various stages of construction.
Shooting anti-ship missiles 3M22 from the side of the "Ash" is carried out using a vertical launcher in the central part of the hull. It has 32 cells for missiles of various types. Whether it is possible to launch the Zircon through a standard 533-mm torpedo tube is unknown.
If a new missile system for submarines requires a special launcher, then only nuclear submarines pr. 885 (M) will remain its carriers in the foreseeable future. Possible compatibility with torpedo tubes, in turn, will expand the range of potential carriers.
Fleet-wide
In the coming months, at least two ships will receive the new Zircon hypersonic missile - combat frigates of Project 22350. Then the fleet will receive new ships of this type and will be able to expand their combat capabilities with hypersonic anti-ship missiles. From 2025, a similar re-equipment of submarine forces will begin. By that time, there will already be several "Ash" in the ranks, which will probably speed up the process of deploying missiles.
As a result, by the end of the current decade, the surface and submarine forces of the Russian Navy will have at least 18-19 ships and submarines with Zircons on board. Pennants with such weapons will be in the Northern, Pacific and Black Sea fleets. At the same time, there is a fundamental possibility of increasing the total number of such ships and the appearance of new anti-ship missiles on the ships of two other formations of the Navy.
Depending on current needs and tasks, carrier ships will be able to take on board one or another number of 3M22 products. At the same time, their ammunition will also include other weapons, such as Caliber or Onyx missiles. This will provide high flexibility in solving combat missions. One ship or submarine will be able to attack ground or surface targets, and for the latter it will be possible to choose the most effective means of destruction.
Waiting for the missiles
Thus, one of the main projects aimed at the development of the Russian navy is being successfully completed right now. In just a few months or even weeks, the full-fledged operation of the latest Zircon hypersonic missile system for surface ships will begin. In another three years, submarines will also receive such weapons.
Over the next years, the number of carriers of the new anti-ship missiles in service will constantly grow. All current plans will be completed by the end of the decade - and the fleet will have approx. 20 pennants with dozens of such missiles. This will give our Navy special combat and operational capabilities, and the expected benefits fully justify the necessary expectation.
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