As of: March 6, 2024, 5:59 p.m
By: Simon Schröder
Comments
Press
Split
In the Ukraine war, Putin is relying more and more on modern weapons.
The Zircon hypersonic missile is said to be the fastest rocket in the world.
Moscow – In his speech to the Russian Federal Assembly on February 29, Vladimir Putin confirmed the use of the Zircon hypersonic missile in the Ukraine war.
This new weapon is said to reach speeds of up to Mach-9 and therefore cannot be intercepted by surface-to-air missiles.
The range of the weapon is said to be over 1000 kilometers.
A Russian MiG-31K fighter aircraft with the supposed “miracle” Kinschal hypersonic missile.
© IMAGO / ITAR-TASS
The Ukrainian side has long suspected that the missile would be used.
Evidence of the weapon was found by the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute in a Russian attack on February 7,
CNN
reported.
Putin now seems to confirm the suspicions about the use of the Zircon.
Zircon cannot be repelled by the Patriot system: Russian advantage in the Ukraine war
In a report, the institute stated: "Markings on the parts and fragments, the identification of components and parts as well as the characteristics of the respective weapon type" would point to the Zircon weapon.
The missile is launched from sea on a warship, as Russian state media reports, and is practically impossible to intercept due to its hypersonic properties.
The American Patriot system is only capable of neutralizing enemy missiles up to Mach 8.
Zircon is the fastest rocket in the world – and invisible to Ukrainian radar
The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a non-profit organization that advocates for missile defense, writes on its website about the Zircon missile: "If this information is correct, the Zircon missile would be the fastest in the world, so based on its speed alone it is unlikely to be possible would have to be defended.” Another aspect the organization cites is the plasma cloud that would envelop the rocket during flight.
This cloud can absorb radiation and radio frequencies, making the rocket invisible to radar.
Putin's Kinschal rocket disappointing so far: Chinese criticize the "miracle weapon"
The Kinschal hypersonic weapon has also been used in the Ukraine war for some time.
However, Kinschal has “disappointed” so far.
Business
Insider
says that the missile has been heavily criticized, especially by the Chinese side, as China's own hypersonic missile has not yet been tested against the Patriot system.
However, the Kinschal is very vulnerable to the American defense system, especially due to its ballistic trajectory, according to some analysts.
It cannot be compared with “real hypersonic missiles”.
It remains to be seen whether the Zirkon has more to offer.
(SiSchr)