Ukraine’s Intel Unpacks Russia’s Hypersonic ‘Zircon’ Missile - Small Warhead and Foreign Tech

Key Points:

• Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) revealed detailed information about Russia’s 3M22 Zircon missile, including its design, warhead size, guidance systems, and manufacturing components, some of which involve foreign equipment.
• Originally designed as an anti-ship weapon for Russia’s nuclear submarines and Project 22350 frigates, the Zircon has been adapted for launch from Bastion-M coastal missile systems due to operational challenges faced by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
• The missile carries a relatively small warhead of about 120 kilograms, lighter than Russia’s smaller Banderol cruise missile, and uses a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system with inertial navigation and an active radar seeker for guidance.
• Despite Russian claims of speeds up to Mach 9, HUR reported the highest recorded speed of the Zircon at around Mach 6.8, noting it cannot sustain maximum speed throughout its flight.
• HUR also highlighted Russia’s expanded use of ballistic weapons in Ukraine, including an upgraded Iskander-1000 missile with enhanced engine and launch capabilities for longer-range strikes.