3M22 Zircon

The 3M22 Zircon^[1][2] also sometimes spelled 3M22 Tsirkon (Russian: Циркон, NATO reporting name: SS-N-33)^[3] is a maneuvering anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile developed in Russia.^[4][5] Its latest successful launch was on June 3, 2017, almost a year earlier than had been announced by Russian officials.^[6]

Development

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.^[7]

In November 2017, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev stated that the Zircon missile is already deployed in the Russian Armed Forces.^[8]

Design

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.^[5][9] The missile represents a further development of the HELA (Hypersonic Experimental Flying Vehicle) developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya^[10] 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;^[11] average range is around 400–450 km (250–280 mi; 220–240 nmi).^[12] 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.^[13][14][15]

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.^[16][17][18]

The missile will be incorporated into the Kirov-class battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov in 2018, and the Pyotr Velikiy in 2022. The ships will have their P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles replaced with 3S-14 vertical launch systems capable of holding P-800 Oniks and Kalibr missiles as well as the Zircon; each battlecruiser will be equipped with 72 such missiles.^[19] After the upgrade, the battlecruisers can carry 40–80 anti-ship missiles of different types.^[20] Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates will have possibility to carry 8 while the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates 16 Zircon missiles.^[21][22] The missile may be used also by the planned Lider-class destroyer as well as by other undersea and aerial platforms including the Yasen-class, Husky-class attack submarines^[21] 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.^[19][22] Missiles exchange information in flight and can be controlled by commands if necessary.^[23]

Export

A version for export should have its range limited under 300 km in compliance with the MTCR^[11] or up to 400 km.^[13]

Operators

 Russia

See also

• BrahMos-II
• Kh-90
• Boeing X-51
• Kh-22 up to 1000 km
• Skif (missile) for sea basement (in service)^[24]

References

Further reading

• Hypersonic missile "Zircon" why NATO is afraid of new Russian weapons (Russian)
• Hunting in Russian "Zircon" (Russian)