Putin deploys frigate to Atlantic armed with hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles | World News

President Vladimir Putin despatched a frigate to the Atlantic Ocean armed with new era hypersonic cruise missiles on Wednesday, a sign to the West that Russia won't again down over the struggle in Ukraine.

Russia, China and the USA are in a race to develop hypersonic weapons that are seen as a approach to acquire an edge over any adversary due to their speeds - above 5 occasions the velocity of sound - and manoeuvrability.

In a video convention with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Igor Krokhmal, commander of the frigate named "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov", Putin mentioned the ship was armed with Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic weapons.

"This time the ship is supplied with the most recent hypersonic missile system - 'Zircon'," mentioned Putin. "I'm certain that such highly effective weapons will reliably shield Russia from potential exterior threats."

The weapons, Putin mentioned, had "no analogues in any nation on the earth".

Greater than 10 months since Putin despatched troops into Ukraine, there is no such thing as a finish in sight to the struggle which has descended right into a grinding winter artillery battle that has killed and wounded tens of 1000's of troopers on each side.

Russia has additionally used hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles in Ukraine.

Together with the Avangard hypersonic glide automobile which entered fight obligation in 2019, the Zircon kinds the centrepiece of Russia's hypersonic arsenal.

Russia sees the weapons as a approach to pierce more and more subtle U.S. missile defences which Putin has warned may someday shoot down Russian nuclear missiles.

ATLANTIC VOYAGE

Shoigu mentioned the Gorshkov would sail to the Atlantic and Indian oceans and to the Mediterranean Sea.

"This ship, armed with 'Zircons', is able to delivering pinpoint and highly effective strikes towards the enemy at sea and on land," Shoigu mentioned.

Shoigu mentioned the hypersonic missiles may overcome any missile defence system. The missiles fly at 9 occasions the velocity of sound and have a spread of over 1,000 km, Shoigu mentioned.

The primary duties of the voyage had been to counter threats to Russia and to take care of "regional peace and stability collectively with pleasant international locations", Shoigu mentioned.

A U.S. Congressional Analysis Service report on hypersonic weapons says that Russian and Chinese language hypersonic missiles are designed for use with nuclear warheads.

The goal of a hypersonic weapon is rather more troublesome to calculate than for intercontinental ballistic missiles due to their manoeuvrability.

Past Russia, the USA and China, a spread of different international locations are growing hypersonic weapons together with Australia, France, Germany, South Korea, North Korea and Japan, in accordance with the U.S. Congressional Analysis Service.