By TASS Russian news agency
“This year, the trials of the Tsirkon hypersonic missile will be completed.”
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko
The deputy defense minister said in January that the state trials of the Tsirkon missile would be completed this year and the weapon would be test-fired from submarines.
The Project 885M Yasen-M nuclear-powered submarine Kazan accepted for service with the Russian Navy in May can carry Tsirkon hypersonic missiles to attack ground and seaborne targets, Commander of the Northern Fleet’s 11th Submarine Division Rear Admiral Alexander Zarenkov said.
Zarenkov recalled that the Kazan is the lead submarine built under improved Project 885M.
“The project features versatile vertical launchers suitable for Onyx antiship, Tsirkon hypersonic or Kalibr cruise missiles, which makes it possible to deliver multiple strikes against enemy surface and ground targets.”
Commander of the Northern Fleet’s 11th Submarine Division, Rear Adm. Alexander Zarenkov
Unlike its predecessors, the advanced nuclear-powered submarine “features greater stealth, improved maneuverability, upgraded communications and sonar systems and better habitability,” the rear admiral said.
Project 885M submarines are set to make up the mainstay of the Russian Navy’s strike submarine forces under the Navy development strategy, he added.
–End-
About Tsirkon Hypersonic Anti-ship Missile
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.
