WHY THE WORLD IS WORRIED ABOUT THIS 'UNSTOPPABLE' HYPERSONIC RUSSIAN MISSILE
FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 BY INDIANDEFENSE NEWS
Russia Test-Firing New Hypersonic Zircon Cruise Missiles for 5th-Gen Subs
Zircon, which can strike targets as far as 400 km away, is expected to be inducted by the Russia defense forces by 2022
Russia is expected to begin serial production of hypersonic missile Tsirkon or Zircon soon. The missile boasts of speed five times than that of speed of sound. Reports say the missile can travel with a speed of up to 4,600 mph or 7,400 km/h, which makes it almost impossible to be stopped.
Countries like the US and Britain, who have most powerful defense forces in the world, are already losing sweat over Russia's new missile defense system.
"State tests of Zircon are scheduled for completion in 2017 in accordance with the contract, and the missile's serial production is planned to be launched next year," a report carried out by Russian news agency TASS said quoting sources.
Highlights
Russia closer to begin production of hypersonic missile Zircon.
Zircon can reach a speed of up to 7,400 km per hour.
India is developing hypersonic missile BrahMos-II in collaboration with Russia.
US, BRITAIN WORRIED
Zircon, which can strike targets as far as 400 km away, is expected to be inducted by the Russia defense forces by 2022. With its enormous speed, Zircon is capable of evading the best anti-missile systems presently in use across the world. A report in The Independent said that UK's Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers would be unable to stop.
The Royal Navy's current Sea Ceptor missile system can only shoot down missiles travelling up to 2,300 mph, the report said.
On the other hand, the US Navy is worried that Russia may fit Zircon to its nuclear-powered Kirkov warship.
WHAT MAKES ZIRCON LETHAL
Zircon works on the scramjet technology to attain its hypersonic speeds. The missile uses air pressure for propulsion. A specially designed system pushes air from the atmosphere into the combustion chamber where the air is mixed with the on-board fuel to provide energy.
What makes Zircon lightweight and faster than other missiles is that it doesn't carry oxidizer. There are no fans or turbines to propel it, which essentially means less chances of any mechanical failure.
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