Russian President Vladimir Putin attended by videoconference this Wednesday, January 4, the mission launch of a warship equipped with new Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, in the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and in the Mediterranean.
The crazy history of the Russian Empire in 30 dates
“I am sure that such powerful weapons will effectively protect Russia from external threats and help defend national interests”Vladimir Putin said at the ceremony, which he attended with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu from an unspecified location, according to Russian agencies.
“The ship’s crew will train in the deployment of hypersonic weapons and long-range cruise missiles”said Sergei Shoigu.
Missiles planned to reach Mach 9
Sergei Shoigu pointed out that the Zircon hypersonic missiles, planned to reach a speed of Mach 9 (i.e. nine times the speed of sound, approximately 11,000 km/h) were “capable of overcoming any current or future air defense system”and could perform “powerful and precise strikes at sea and on land”.
According to Colonel Michel Goya, interviewed on BFMTVit is however unlikely that the Russian army will be able to use this new technology in the near future, especially in Ukraine.
Russia has suffered a series of humiliating setbacks in its offensive launched more than 10 months ago in Ukraine. Russia’s military command has faced fresh criticism in recent days after Ukrainian strikes with US Himars rocket launchers on New Year’s Eve left at least 89 soldiers who were gathered en masse in one building dead, according to Russia.
