Russia test fires hypersonic missile from submerged submarine
Russia said Monday it had completed two
launches of hypersonic cruise missiles, including one from a submerged
submarine, the latest tests of emerging weapons President Vladimir Putin has
dubbed “invincible”.
Moscow has in recent years touted the development of weapons that it hopes
will give it the edge in any arms race with the United States at a time of
growing tensions with the West.
Hypersonics can travel more than five times the speed of sound and
manoeuvre in mid-flight, making them much harder to track and intercept than
traditional projectiles.
The military said on Monday it had fired a Zircon missile from the
Severodvinsk nuclear submarine and hit a test target in the Barents Sea in
Russia’s Arctic.
“The test launch of the Zircon missile from a nuclear submarine was
considered successful,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
The ministry released grainy video footage showing missile flares
illuminating the night sky.
Later on Monday, the ministry said in a separate statement it had
completed another test launch of Zircon from the same submarine but from 40
metres (131 feet) below the surface.
It was the “first time” the missile had been launched from a submerged
position, the ministry added in the statement carried by Russian news
agencies.
The Zircon had already undergone several tests in recent years, including
a launch from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate.
Putin used his state of the nation address in 2018 to reveal new
hypersonic weapons, including the Zircon, saying it could hit targets at sea
and on land with a range of 1,000 kilometres.
The Zircon looks set to join Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles that were
put into service in 2019 and the air-launched Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles in
Russia’s arsenal.
The launch comes a week after North Korea said it had tested a new
hypersonic weapon, becoming the latest country to join the hypersonic arms
race.
Experts agree that, for now at least, Russia has an edge in their
development.
AFP
