"In the video originally shared on Telegram, the crew aboard the frigate Admiral Golovko fires the Zircon at a target in the Barents Sea, an area bounded to the west by the Norwegian Sea. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the target was destroyed in a direct hit by its hypersonic missile, which can reach a distance of up to 1,000 kilometers and travel at Mach 9-nine times the speed of sound."
"The images also show exercises with Sukoi Su-34 supersonic fighter-bombers, a two-seater fighter-bomber that can carry up to eight tons of armament and can fly up to 2,485 miles (4,000 kilometers) without refueling (or more than 4,350 miles, or 7,000 km, with external tanks). There is evidence that Russia has employed hypersonic missiles against civilian targets in Ukraine, such as the Zircon or Kinzhal, which are virtually impossible to intercept."
"The Zircon test is part of the Zapad 2025 joint maneuvers with Belarus, a week of military exercises aimed at assessing defensive and coordination capabilities between the two allied countries. It also serves to show that Russia's military force has not lost its strength, despite heavy losses more than three years after the start of the invasion of Ukraine."
Russia released images showing a frigate-launched 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile fired from the Barents Sea near NATO borders. The Russian Defense Ministry reported a direct hit on the target and described the Zircon as capable of reaching up to 1,000 kilometers and traveling at around Mach 9. The launch took place during Zapad 2025 joint maneuvers with Belarus intended to assess defensive coordination and to demonstrate retained military strength despite wartime losses. Footage also showed Sukoi Su-34 fighter-bombers and long-range strike capabilities. Hypersonic weapons have reportedly been used against civilian targets in Ukraine, complicating air defenses amid recent cross-border drone incursions.
Read at WIRED
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