Russia tests Zircon hypersonic missile system, which it says makes U.S. defenses obsolete

[GDP Adil Khan Niazi]

The Russian military’s hypersonic Zircon missile is shown in flight in this photo from a Russian website KRSK.kp.ru, via Wikipedia. (KRSK/Wikipedia)

Russia declared today its first test of a hypersonic missile, a year ahead of schedule. Defense analysts proclaimed the test made U.S. missile defense systems obsolete.

American missile defense has been a thorn in the side of the Kremlin since the days of Ronald Reagan’s SDI, or Strategic Defense Initiative. One could argue that SDI broke the back of the Soviet Union financially and technologically and forced Gorbachev to realize the U.S.S.R. could not beat America in a missile defense arms race.

The Russian international news site Sputnik suggested the missile, named Zircon, could be installed on Pyotr Veliky, the country’s nuclear-powered missile strike ship. Analysts stated the missile concept can fly at 4,600 miles per hour — that’s 6 times the speed of sound — and would be practically impervious to missile defense systems, reported The Independent.

Russia has conducted five successful test flights of a hypersonic missile which is almost impossible to intercept – and which renders Western defenses ‘obsolete’.

The Zircon missile can travel at between 3,800mph and 4,600mph – five to six times the speed of sound.
The speed of the Zircon missile makes it extremely difficult to target with anti-missile systems – and it could render Western defenses ‘obsolete’, according to defense analyst Tim Ripley.

Ripley said, ‘It will greatly reduce the reaction time that they (Western military units) have to deploy their own defenses and countermeasures.’
Military analyst Vladimir Tuchkov told Russian state media, ‘In Russia, the testing of actual weapons is already underway.

‘It is expected to be added into Russia’s arsenal between 2018 and 2020’.

China and Russia have searched for asymmetric weapons that can defeat American carriers that project power and missile systems that protect the homeland against foreign nuclear attack. Hypersonic missiles are part of this effort and are here to stay as a quantum leap in destructive military firepower.

 

[Penguin]

= Soviet era 4K44 Redut coastal missile system.

See SPU-35V "Redut" or NATO "SSC-1 Sepal'

The 4K44 Redut uses the P-5 Pyatyorka cruise missile, also known as the SS-N-3B. The missile has a 1,000 kg warhead and a range of 450 km. It has a maximum speed of Mach 0.9.
https://russianmilitaryphotos.wordp...ariant-spu-35v-mobile-coastal-defense-system/

https://www.krsk.kp.ru/daily/26670.5/3692150/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/3/russia-tests-hypersonic-missile-which-it-says-make/

That's supposed to be Zircon?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...ully-launches-unstoppable-cruise-missile.html

Looks more like a Russian 48N6E3 surface-to-air missile

http://www.news.com.au/technology/i...h/news-story/26dc91bb90924b76dccdb1e445d6e332


Brahmos II

Zircon

http://www.realcleardefense.com/2017/04/01/russia039s_hypersonic_4600_mph_zircon_missile_291748.html
This talks about ZIrcon but shows ....

Which is ...

NOTE THE B52 BOMBER CARRYING IT!
It is the X-51A WaveRider hypersonic test vehicle being carried by a USAF B-52H

http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104467/x-51a-waverider/

So.... go figure.

 

[Bharat Muslim]

The Russian military’s hypersonic Zircon missile is shown in flight in this photo from a Russian website KRSK.kp.ru, via Wikipedia. (KRSK/Wikipedia)

Russia declared today its first test of a hypersonic missile, a year ahead of schedule. Defense analysts proclaimed the test made U.S. missile defense systems obsolete.

American missile defense has been a thorn in the side of the Kremlin since the days of Ronald Reagan’s SDI, or Strategic Defense Initiative. One could argue that SDI broke the back of the Soviet Union financially and technologically and forced Gorbachev to realize the U.S.S.R. could not beat America in a missile defense arms race.

The Russian international news site Sputnik suggested the missile, named Zircon, could be installed on Pyotr Veliky, the country’s nuclear-powered missile strike ship. Analysts stated the missile concept can fly at 4,600 miles per hour — that’s 6 times the speed of sound — and would be practically impervious to missile defense systems, reported The Independent.

Russia has conducted five successful test flights of a hypersonic missile which is almost impossible to intercept – and which renders Western defenses ‘obsolete’.

The Zircon missile can travel at between 3,800mph and 4,600mph – five to six times the speed of sound.
The speed of the Zircon missile makes it extremely difficult to target with anti-missile systems – and it could render Western defenses ‘obsolete’, according to defense analyst Tim Ripley.

Ripley said, ‘It will greatly reduce the reaction time that they (Western military units) have to deploy their own defenses and countermeasures.’
Military analyst Vladimir Tuchkov told Russian state media, ‘In Russia, the testing of actual weapons is already underway.

‘It is expected to be added into Russia’s arsenal between 2018 and 2020’.

China and Russia have searched for asymmetric weapons that can defeat American carriers that project power and missile systems that protect the homeland against foreign nuclear attack. Hypersonic missiles are part of this effort and are here to stay as a quantum leap in destructive military firepower.

I am disappointed and a bit saddened but there is a need to move on.