3M22 Zircon
| 3M22 Zircon | |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile Air-launched cruise missile Submarine-launched cruise missile Land-attack missile |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service | In production |
| Used by | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | NPO Mashinostroyeniya |
| Produced | 2012–present |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 8-10 m |
| Engine | Scramjet |
| Fuel capacity | 600 miles (970 km) |
Operational range | 1,000 km (540 nmi; 620 mi) |
| Speed | Mach 8 (6,090 mph; 9,800 km/h; 2,722.3 m/s)[1] |
Launch platform | Aircraft, submarines, ships, and ground-based TEL systems |
The 3M22 Zircon[2][3] also spelled as 3M22 Tsirkon (Russian: Циркон, NATO reporting name: SS-N-33)[4] is a maneuvering anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile developed by Russia.[5][6] Its latest successful launch was on June 3, 2017, almost a year earlier than had been announced by Russian officials.[7]
Development[edit]
Prototypes were test-launched first from a Tu-22M3 bomber in 2012-2013. Launches from a ground platform followed in 2015, with first success achieved in 2016.
In April 2017, it was reported that the Zircon had reached a speed of Mach 8 (6,090 mph; 9,800 km/h; 2,722.3 m/s) during a test.[8]
In November 2017, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev stated that the Zircon missile is already deployed in the Russian Armed Forces.[9]
Design[edit]
The Zircon is believed to be a maneuvering, winged hypersonic cruise missile with a lift-generating center body. A booster stage with solid-fuel engines accelerates it to supersonic speeds, after which a scramjet motor in the second stage accelerates it to hypersonic speeds.[6][10] The missile represents a further development of the HELA (Hypersonic Experimental Flying Vehicle) developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya[11] that was on display at the MAKS Air Show in 1995.
The Zircon's range is estimated to be 135 to 270 nautical miles (155 to 311 mi; 250 to 500 km) at low level, and up to 400 nmi (460 mi; 740 km) in a semi-ballistic trajectory;[12] average range is around 400–450 km (250–280 mi; 220–240 nmi).[13] According to state-owned media, the longest range is 540 nmi (620 mi; 1,000 km) and for this purpose a new fuel was created.[14][15][16]
The Zircon can travel at a speed of Mach 5–Mach 6 (3,806–4,567 mph; 6,125–7,350 km/h; 1,701.5–2,041.7 m/s). Such high speeds have led to concerns that it could penetrate existing naval defense systems; the Royal Navy's Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missile is only capable of intercepting targets flying up to Mach 3.[17][18][19]
The missile will be introduced with the Kirov-class battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov after the completion of its currently undergoing refit, following by the Pyotr Velikiy. The ships will have their P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles replaced with 3S-14 vertical launch systems capable of carrying the Oniks, Kalibr and Zircon missiles; each battlecruiser will be equipped with 72 such missiles.[20] After the upgrade, the battlecruisers can carry 40–80 anti-ship missiles of different types.[21] Other surface platforms of the Russian Navy includes the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates with possibility to carry 8 Zircon missiles while the number of missiles raises to 16 when carried by the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates.[22][23] The missile could be used also by the planned Lider-class destroyer as well as by other current or planned military platforms including the Yasen-class, Husky-class attack submarines[22] and the Tu-160M2, Tupolev PAK DA strategic bombers.
In flight, the missile is completely covered by a plasma cloud. This cloud absorbs any radio waves and makes the missile invisible to radar.[20][23] Missiles exchange information in flight and can be controlled by commands if necessary.[24]
Export[edit]
A version for export should have its range limited under 300 km in compliance with the MTCR[12] or up to 400 km.[14]
Operators[edit]
See also[edit]
- BrahMos-II
- Kh-90
- Boeing X-51
- Kh-22 up to 1000 km
- Skif (missile) for sea basement (in service)[25]
References[edit]
- ^ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55faab67e4b0914105347194/t/5b0eb1b203ce644a398267ef/1527689654381/Russia%27s+Invincible+Weapons.pdf
- ^ http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/focus-analysis/naval-technology/3810-analysis-3k22-and-3m22-zircon-the-next-generation-hypersonic-missile-of-the-russian-navy.html
- ^ https://sputniknews.com/politics/201708221056695530-russia-hypersonic-missiles/[unreliable source?]
- ^ CMANO:WOTY DB
- ^ "Russia develops hypersonic 4,600 mph Zircon missile". Fox News. 1 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Эксперт рассказал о суперспособности ракеты "Циркон" преодолеть системы ПРО". РЕН ТВ. 15 April 2017.
- ^ Marsden, Harriet (3 June 2017). "New Russian missile 'makes Western defences obselete'". The Independent. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Russia's hypersonic Zircon anti-ship missile reaches eight times speed of sound". TASS. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ "Бондарев: ВС РФ имеют гиперзвуковые ракеты "Циркон" и ракеты донного базирования "Скиф"". TASS. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ "Российские ракеты «Циркон» делают американский «Джеральд Форд» «авианедоносцем». | Блог Малюта | КОНТ". cont.ws.
- ^ Ivanov, Yuri (17 April 2017). "Гиперзвуковая ракета "Циркон" ослабит позиции США" (in Russian). ОРУЖИЕ РОССИИ. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ a b Russia and India Test Hypersonic and Supersonic Missiles - Ainonline.com, 25 April 2017
- ^ Dave Majumdar (2016-04-22). "Russia's Lethal Hypersonic Zircon Cruise Missile to Enter Production". nationalinterest.org. The National Interest Blog. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ a b "Для гиперзвуковых крылатых ракет в России создано принципиально новое топливо". vesti.ru. Вести. 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ "Российские ракеты «Циркон» делают американский «Джеральд Форд» «авианедоносцем». | Блог Малюта | КОНТ". Cont.ws. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ "Ракеты «Циркон» окончательно определили технологическое превосходство России над США". ruspolitica.ru. Русская политика. 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2016-04-26). "Russia's Putting Hypersonic Missiles on Its Battlecruisers". Popularmechanics.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ^ Caroline Mortimer. "Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers cannot stop Russia's new hypersonic Zircon missiles". The Independent. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ^ Britain Admits that Russian Missiles Can Blow Its New Aircraft Carriers Out of the Water - Nationalinterest.org, 30 April 2017
- ^ a b Виктория Фоменко (2016-05-17). "Опаснее «Калибра»: Россия начала испытание гиперзвуковой ракеты «Циркон» - Газета Труд". trud.ru. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ "Начались испытания гиперзвуковой ракеты "Циркон"". rg.ru. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ a b "Российская ракета "Циркон" достигла восьми скоростей звука". rg.ru. 2017-04-15. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ a b "В России успешно провели испытания новой гиперзвуковой ракеты «Циркон», не имеющей аналогов в мире". 1tv.ru. 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ "«Циркон» выходит на рабочую скорость". vz.ru. 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4746647
Further reading[edit]
- Hypersonic missile "Zircon" why NATO is afraid of new Russian weapons (Russian)
- Hunting in Russian "Zircon" (Russian)