Russia Tests zircon Hypersonic Missile Amidst Major Military Drills Near NATO Border
Barents Sea – Russia has successfully launched a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile from a vessel in the Barents Sea, the russian Ministry of Defense announced Sunday. The missile reportedly hit a designated target with a direct strike during the ongoing “Zapad-2025” military exercise.
“According to objective observation data obtained in real-time, the target was destroyed by a direct hit,” the Ministry stated, as reported by reuters.
The 3M22 Circon missile is designed for both ship and submarine launches, capable of striking both surface vessels and land targets. Russian officials claim the weapon can reach speeds of up to eight times the speed of sound and has a range extending up to 1,000 kilometers, depending on its flight path. Its extreme speed and maneuverability make it exceptionally difficult to intercept.
(See map of the Barents Sea here)
Escalating Tensions & Nuclear Exercise
This presentation of advanced weaponry comes as Russia conducts large-scale joint military exercises with Belarus, dubbed “Zapad-2025,” along NATO’s eastern flank. These drills, which began on September 12th, include simulated deployment of nuclear weapons, raising concerns among international leaders about potential escalation.
The exercises follow a recent incident where 19 Russian drones were detected in Polish airspace, prompting poland and Latvia to temporarily close their borders and erect border fortifications.
While officially involving 7,000-8,000 troops, Lithuanian intelligence estimates the total number of personnel participating in “Zapad-2025” could reach 30,000, with 8,000 stationed in Belarus. The drills are taking place across various training grounds in both Russia and Belarus, as well as in the Baltic and Barents Seas.
The Russian Ministry of Defense states the exercises aim to practice joint command and control of forces in the event of aggression against the Russia-Belarus union state, and to test joint actions
