By Matt Underwood Russia Fired the Zircon Hypersonic Missile During Military Drills
The recent reports of Russia firing its Zircon hypersonic missile during military drills are certainly generating a buzz. It’s hard not to be intrigued by this technology, even if the initial impressions are a bit mixed. This missile, first launched back in 2017, is designed to travel at incredible speeds – “hypersonic” means it can go faster than five times the speed of sound. While this capability is impressive on paper, there are some reported limitations that are worth considering.
One of the primary challenges with the Zircon seems to be its targeting capabilities at such extreme speeds. To achieve a long range of around 1000 km, the missile reportedly flies at an altitude that puts it into an orbit of about 28 kilometers. Then, for course correction, it has to slow down significantly, to around Mach 4 to Mach 4.5, to avoid the plasma cone that forms around it. This slowing down happens roughly 70-80 kilometers from its intended target. This leaves a short window for final adjustments to hit its intended target. Some sources suggest that the missile is also vulnerable to interception by systems like the Patriot PAC 3, as evidenced by reported photographs of missile debris.
While Russia touts the Zircon as a powerful weapon, some observers remain unconvinced. The perceived limitations, such as the need to slow down for course correction and the relatively small warhead size of around 150kg, raise questions about its effectiveness in certain scenarios. It’s also worth noting that the US, for instance, has invested heavily in stealth technology, rather than focusing on hypersonic capabilities, possibly indicating a different strategic approach to modern warfare.
The implications of this technology extend beyond mere military hardware. It’s understood that the Kremlin has made strong claims of the Zircon being able to strike major Western cities. When taking this into consideration, the firing of the missile during training is a message. In this context, even a straightforward news report can be interpreted as propaganda, depending on its framing and how it might be intended to influence public opinion.
The Zircon’s design also offers interesting nuances. It is believed to be capable of both anti-ship and land-attack roles, and some sources indicate it’s a conventional, low-yield precision strike weapon. However, if the accuracy is worse than some existing ballistic missiles, particularly with a warhead of that size, this raises questions about the overall value of the technology. The missile’s guidance system uses deviations to generate corrective commands and its speed is supposed to make it hard to intercept. But the U.S. may have chosen to use stealth technology instead of hypersonics, because that is the optimal way to solve the problem, and that is an interesting thing to consider.
Ultimately, the launch of the Zircon is another data point in the ongoing evolution of modern warfare. While the technology itself is fascinating, it is important to consider it with a critical eye. There are many factors that determine the true effectiveness of any weapon, and the Zircon’s capabilities should be weighed against potential vulnerabilities and limitations. The military uses a “do it till it works” method until precision science takes over. From that standpoint, there is much work to be done, though it will be interesting to see how this technology develops and what impact it has on the global strategic landscape.