OREANDA-NEWS. The Russian hypersonic missile Zircon has been tested in the Arctic Ocean, the Defense Ministry reported. Zircon was launched from the lead frigate of project 22350 Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Gorshkov in the White Sea and, having covered 450 kilometers, hit the target in the Barents Sea.

“The missile’s speed was more than Mach 8. The closure of the firing area was provided by the Northern Fleet forces operating in the Barents Sea, including the missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov and the frigate Admiral Flota Kasatonov,” the release adds.

Previous tests took place in October. Upon completion of the tests, the hypersonic complex will enter service with the submarines and surface ships of the Russian Navy. In addition to the naval version, President Vladimir Putin previously mentioned the development of a land-based Zircon. It is assumed that the maximum speed of the missile will be 10.7 thousand kilometers per hour (Mach 9), and the flight range will be over 1 thousand kilometers.