Russia Beyond

The Zircon hypersonic missile has been sent for underwater testing on the Project 885 Yasen-class nuclear submarine, Russian media reported citing sources in the military-industrial complex (MIC).

“As part of the ongoing tests of the Zircon fleet-based missile system, it is planned to fire the hypersonic missile from the Severodvinsk submarine under the water,” a source said.

The source clarified that originally Zircon was to be launched from the upgraded Project 885M (Yasen-M) Kazan lead submarine, but the plans were revised due to protracted testing of the vessel.

The precise launch date has yet to be specified. However, according to the MIC source, three or four launches from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov in the Barents Sea are scheduled for this year, after which the missile will be underwater-tested from the Severodvinsk.

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