Calay News
Russia’s recent exit from the nuclear arms treaty has raised fears of a possible escalation of war in its conflict with Ukraine, and in this context, the Zircon hypersonic missile has become a key part of Russia’s arsenal. President Putin has boasted of the Zircon’s capability on several occasions, claiming it is unrivaled in the world and threatening the West with more hypersonic missiles and nuclear weaponry in a recent speech.
The Zircon is a hypersonic cruise missile that exceeds the speed of sound by at least five times, and the Kremlin claims to have successfully flown it at eight times the speed of sound in 2017. Moreover, during its trajectory, the missile is completely covered by a plasma cloud that absorbs radio frequency beams, making it undetectable by enemy radars. According to the official Russian press, the Zircon also has a range accuracy of 1,000 km, and in tests conducted in the Atlantic, it has successfully hit a target at 900 km. While it is unclear whether these claims are true, what is certain is that President Biden has ordered the development of hypersonic missiles as a top priority due to the fear of being clearly inferior in this aspect compared to Russia and North Korea.
In short, Zircon hypersonic missiles are a key component of Russia’s war arsenal, and their speed, range, and camouflage capabilities make them a potential threat to any enemy. Concerns about escalating warfare in the region and technological competition in nuclear weaponry are issues of high importance today.
