By TASS Russian news agency
“The Navy and defense enterprises are testing the first nuclear submarine carrier of Poseidon unmanned underwater craft. The crew continues to master the new weapon of the carrier,”
Russian MoD
Tsirkon trials are successfully being completed. The Admiral Gorshkov frigate test fired the missile and confirmed the distance and precision characteristics, as well as hypersonic speed. Trials continue as scheduled.
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Naval News comments:
About Poseidon Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo
According to Covert Shores, The Project 09851 Khabarovsk (пр.09851 “Калитка-СМП” “Хабаровск”) submarine is likely the main launching platform of the Poseidon “Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo” (also known as 2м39 ‘Poseidon’ [Посейдон] / ‘Status-6’ [Статус-6] / ‘Skif’ [Скиф] seabed launched variant / NATO: KANYON).
Poseidon is the largest torpedo ever developed in any country. At around 2 meters (6.5 ft) in diameter and over 20 meters (65 ft) long, it is approximately twice the size of submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and thirty times the size of a regular ‘heavyweight’ torpedo.
About Tsirkon Hypersonic Anti-ship Missile
Tsirkon test launch from a warship was scheduled in late 2019, but took place in January 2020. The Admiral Gorshkov frigate of project 22350 fired the missile from the Barents Sea.
Open sources said the hypersonic 3M-22 missile was designed by NPO-machinostroeniya in Reutov in Moscow region. It is a part of 3K-22 (Tsirkon code) complex which NATO reports as SS-N-33. The missile can develop a speed of Mach 9 and fly at an altitude of 30-40 km where the range and speed increase as air resistance is smaller. Experts estimate the payload at 300-400 kg and the missile length at 8-10 meters. Tsirkon is to be fired from universal vertical launchers 3S-14 on warships and submarines and from Bastion mobile coastal missile launchers.
