As of: February 13, 2024, 12:21 p.m
By: Jens Kiffmeier
Comments
Press
Split
Putin is getting closer to his miracle weapon: Russia has apparently successfully simulated the launch of its “Zircon” hypersonic missile.
Or is it all just a show?
Update from February 13, 2024:
Apparently the Russian military has managed to use the “Zircon” hypersonic missile for the first time after a long development period.
This is evident from the Ukrainian data.
Fragments of a rocket after a rocket attack revealed that the hypersonic missile was probably used on February 7th.
There is no Russian statement.
The danger of hypersonic missiles is that they have a range of over 1000 kilometers.
They can also reach up to nine times the speed of sound.
Because of this speed, Zircon hypersonic missiles can overcome enemy air defenses and cause devastating damage.
Hypersonic missile “Zirkon” probably used: Missile reaches several times the speed of sound
First report from January 25, 2023:
Moscow - They reach several times the speed of sound, are practically invisible to defense systems and can also carry nuclear warheads: Russian hypersonic missiles.
Military experts view these arms projects with horror - especially because Russia continues to expand its arsenal.
On the Atlantic, Putin's weapons factory is said to have successfully simulated the use of the new miracle weapon "Zircon".
But doubts remain.
Is it just a propaganda show?
In the middle of the Ukraine war: Russia is reportedly testing a new hypersonic missile “Zircon”
The use of the new hypersonic missile “Zirkon” has been causing explosive things for weeks.
In the middle of the Ukrainian war, the Kremlin announced that it had installed the weapon system on the frigate “Fleet Admiral of the Soviet Union Gorshkov”.
Now there is said to have been a first test in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean, as Russia's Defense Ministry
announced on the Telegram channel, according to the
dpa news agency.
Whether Kinschal or Zirkon: Russian President Vladimir Putin has hypersonic missiles tested and deployed.
© kcna/dpa/russian look/imago/Montage
The information cannot be independently verified.
But according to Russian information, an initial computer simulation was carried out in a maneuver.
The rocket itself has not yet been fired at an assumed target 900 kilometers away.
The video only shows how the missile hatch opens after the fire command.
The further course of the launch was modeled on the screens.
The reason given was that the procedures for an actual launch should first be practiced.
Invisible to defense: Hypersonic missile “Zirkon” accelerates to 9,000 kilometers per hour
The “Zirkon” is a long-range anti-ship missile with enormous speed.
It is said to be able to accelerate to more than 9,000 kilometers per hour, making it practically inaccessible to defense forces.
The “Zircon” is one of the quartet of hypersonic missiles developed by Russia that can still be controlled after launch.
My news
More natural disasters: How Germany is preparing for climate change read
Now Aiwanger is looking for the wind farm conversation: wind turbines are built “whether citizens want it or not” read
Tanks in urban warfare: Putin is threatened with a new catastrophe like in Groznylesen
Putin's troops in trouble: Swedish tank mixes up the Ukrainian front
Russia and SpaceX reject Starlink allegations – Ukrainian secret service remains steadfast
Fear of “complete collapse”: EU leaves Ukraine hanging on ammunition deliveries
Zirkon, Sarmat, Kinschal, Avangard: Russia's arsenal of hypersonic missiles is growing
If the “Zirkon” is operational at some point, the Russian arsenal will increase to a total of four models.
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had already threatened the West with the three others, the Avangard cruise missile, the ground-based Sarmat missile and the Kinschal, which were fired from aircraft, in 2018 before his re-election.
The “Zirkon” was only officially put into service at the beginning of January.
After the “Admiral of the Soviet Union Gorshkov”, other Russian frigates are to be equipped with the cruise missile.
Hypersonic missiles belong to a new class of weapon systems.
Experts fear that their development will set off an arms race.
Russia started in 2017.
China and the USA are now also working on such weapons systems, which is why experts definitely see a risk of a new arms race.
Putin's hypersonic missiles: USA would probably still be able to cope with attacks at the moment
But how dangerous is Putin's supposed miracle weapon?
It is not considered unthinkable that Russia could have its frigate “Zircon” stationed off the US coast as a threat.
But one ship wouldn't be enough.
According to current developments, the US Navy would be up to the challenge, say military experts.
In order to become dangerous for the USA and its allies, Russia would have to massively advance the development of hypersonic missiles.
But this is becoming increasingly difficult in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
How does a hypersonic missile work?
Exact details of the technology of the Russian hypersonic missile “Zirkon” are not known.
Experts suspect that it works via a multi-stage ramjet engine.
First, the rocket accelerates using a solid rocket engine that is blasted off during flight.
After that, the rocket's design ensures that air flows through the weapon at high pressure and is mixed with fuel.
When the mixture is ignited, the rocket reaches top speed.
The Munich political scientist Frank Sauer from the University of the Bundeswehr recently referred
to the problems of the Russian arms industry in a report for
web.de.
The export ban imposed on military equipment, semiconductors and chips is making it increasingly impossible for Putin's weapons manufacturers to move forward with their projects.
This also affects the development of hypersonic missiles, he said.
Danger of the Zirkon hypersonic missile: Experts consider test to be propaganda in the Ukraine war
Former Bundeswehr colonel Richard Drexl sees it similarly.
He considered the publication of the video about the frigate's armament to be more of a strategic propaganda move.
Behind this there is probably an attempt to strengthen the morale of the Russian troops and to intimidate Western societies.
This is important for the Russian military at the moment, as the losses have been high and Russia is on the defensive in certain areas, he said, according to the media report.
“You have to look,” says Drexl, “how you can respond with positive news.” (
jkf/dpa
)