Russia Likely to Launch Zircon Hypersonic Rocket from a Warship by Yearend

Russia is likely to launch its home-grown hypersonic rocket, Zircon, for the first time from a warship by the end of 2019.

"At the end of this year, it is planned to begin testing the missile from the sea carrier, the lead frigate of project 22350, Admiral Gorshkov, which is part of the Northern Fleet,"  Tass quoted unnamed sources as saying that the launch was announced in the military-industrial complex Tuesday.

 Earlier tests of the rocket were carried out only from the coastal stand, the source recalled. The news agency stated that they have no official confirmation provided by the source of information.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his message to the Federal Assembly on February 20, the newest Russian hypersonic Zircon rocket can reach speeds of about 9 Machs, and its range can exceed 1 thousand km. 

He noted that Zircon can destroy both sea and land targets. The president also said that the use of the new rocket is provided from ships and submarines that have already been produced or are being built for Caliber missile systems.

Later, the rear admiral, Candidate of Technical Sciences Vsevolod Khmyrov, told reporters that ships and submarines armed with Zircon could destroy key elements of control, in particular missiles that could be deployed in Europe, within five minutes.