Europe

Putin puts new Zircon hypersonic missile into service

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2023

Hadiza Mohammed

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced that the new Zircon hypersonic missile has been put into service as the country’s war effort flounders in Ukraine.

Putin in a televised video link from the Kremlin to mark the commissioning of the missiles on the Admiral Gorshkov frigate said: “I am sure that such a powerful weapon will allow us to reliably protect Russia from external threats and secure the national interests of our country.”

The vessel is part of Russia’s Northern Fleet and is to be sent on a lengthy sea voyage to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to demonstrate Russia’s naval power.

The warship, commissioned in 2018, is the first frigate to be equipped with the new missiles.

The Zircon has a range of more than 500 kilometres and is primarily used for anti-ship missions.

According to Russian figures, because of its extremely high speed, it can accelerate up to 8,000 to 9,000 kilometres per hour and it is practically unstoppable by anti-aircraft defenses.

Related Topics:

Up Next

U.S. House still in turmoil with no speaker elected on 2nd day of voting

Don't Miss

Ukraine witnesses free surge of deadly attacks by Russian forces-UN

Hadiza Mohammed

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.