Vladimir Putin on Friday boasted about launching a a simultaneous salvo of its 6,670mph Zircon hypersonic missiles, saying that the development will ‘strengthen Russia’s security’.
Russia’s Zircon cruise missile has been tested successfully as the world races to create advanced weapons.
However, it was not the first successful launch simultaneously of multiple Zircon rockets by Russian authorities.
Russia’s president stated at a government meeting that the missile was launched in a salvo.
Putin stated in his televised comments that the tests had been conducted flawlessly and successfully. He said, “This was a significant event in the history of Russia and a substantial step towards strengthening Russia’s defense capability and security.”
Vladimir Putin (pictured in Moscow today), said Friday that the Russian military had successfully launched a simultaneous attack of its Zircon hypersonic weapons. The Russian president called the event ‘a huge event’.
When AFP reached out to the Russian defense ministry, a spokesperson could not give further information.
Russia, France, China and the United States all have hypersonic gliders. This is defined as reaching speeds below Mach 5.
In February 2019, Putin announced the creation of the weapon, saying that it can hit targets on both land and sea within 600 miles with a Mach 9 speed.
Last month, Russia revealed a ‘successful’ the Zircon missile fired from a warship in the White Sea.
The so-called unstoppable weapon was about 250 miles from Admiral Gorshkov, the Moscow defence ministry of the time.
Prior to the attack, Russia announced that it had begun serial production of its deadly missile amid intense tensions with the West.
Before state testing was completed, the go-ahead to full-scale production in a highly secret plant at Reutovo near Moscow came before any other tests.
Putin has ordered the missile to be deployed next year by the Russian Navy boasting that it is ‘truly unparalleled…in the world’.
On 18 November, a hypersonic missile was successfully tested from an American frigate.
One month before, the Zircon had been fired for the first-time from a submarine.
Russia is a leader in the development of advanced weaponry and has conducted a series of successful test flights of its Zircon hypersonic missile cruiser. Pictured: A November test of Russia’s Zircon missile
Moscow’s State-controlled TV has identified it as Vladimir Putin’s choice weapon for eradicating American cities in an atomic war between two nuclear-armed superpowers.
According to TASS, the multi-purpose hypersonic weapon is designed to hit both ground and sea targets. The missile can reach targets up to 625 miles away.
The Zircon is expected to be placed on Russian warships and then, eventually, submarines.
Recent announcements stated that additional submarine Zircon testing would not be conducted until 2024/2025.
Sources within the defense ministry stated last month that “they will be performed from the Project 885M submarine Perm which will differ from its predecessors through a slightly modified design.”
“If the submarine isn’t ready for the Zircon launch-launches 2024, the test-launches will be resumed during the first half 2025.
Yury Borisov (Kremlin deputy premier) stated that Russia was ahead of the West in hypersonic weaponry – and plans to continue its lead.
He stated that ‘We’ve made progress, particularly in the area of hypersonic weapons (those based on novel physical principles),’
“We now have significant advantages in this respect over the leading Western nations – and we’ll continue to strive for this position.”
Military-Industrial Corporation Research and Industrial Association of Machine Building MIC NPO Mashinostroyenia in Moscow are currently developing the hypersonic weapons.
On July 19, 2021, the hypersonic missile Zircon (Tsirkon), was successfully launched at a target in the Barents Sea.
Russia’s reported troop building up near Ukraine’s border has caused tensions in relations with the West. This has triggered fears of an invasion.
Satellite imagery released Friday showed that Putin moved many more tanks and armored vehicles to Ukraine’s borders in the last week. He also blasted NATO as a ‘expansionist’ amid concerns that he could invade.
A new set of photos, published December 13, shows a brigade-level unit made up several hundred armored vehicles gathered at a Russian base located in Bakhchysarai (Crimea), approximately 110 miles away from the Ukrainian border.
An October 7 satellite image of the same garrison showed the base was half empty, showing that the Kremlin has continued to build up its forces near Ukraine in recent weeks while pressing the United States for talks over security guarantees.
Maxar Technologies has more images from yesterday’s Crimea. They show the entire Russian combat team participating in military exercises at Opuk, a training area located 150 to 160 miles south of the border.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea in 2014, tensions have simmered and are threatening to boil over since Moscow started assembling forces in the area in October following a brief increase in April.
At his annual end-of the year conference, Vladimir Putin stated that Russia was keen to avoid conflicts but required an “immediate” response from America and its allies in order to fulfill its demand for security assurances.
On Friday, the Kremlin stressed that its sovereign right to send its forces onto Russian territory as it chooses and that provocative actions were being taken by Western nations near its borders.
The move comes after more 1,000 Russian troops staged a frenzy military exercise including precision firing and mobile defense drills. Also, practice flights were conducted along the Ukrainian frontier on Thursday.
In a second twist, the drills were made amid reports that’mass graves’ sites each capable of housing 100 bodies are being prepared at the Ukrainian border in preparation for a potential invasion by Russian troops.
AFTER: Newly-published pictures dated December 13 show a new brigade-level unit comprised of several hundred armoured vehicles massed at a Russian base in Bakhchysarai, Crimea, around 110 miles from the Ukrainian border
BEFORE: A satellite image of the same garrison in Bakhchysarai, Crimea, taken on October 7 showed the base was half empty
Moscow has been massing hundreds of thousands of troops and tanks along its eastern flank over the past weeks, creating fears that it will invade. But, the Kremlin maintains that this is only a defense force. (pictured: Russian forces are currently positioned in border areas).
Maxar stated that the Bakhchysarai garrison will be equipped with BMP-series infantry fighting vehicle, tanks and self-propelled gunnery, as well as air defense equipment.
Maxar released a statement saying that “Over the past month our high-resolution imagery satellite imagery had observed a number new Russian deployments within Crimea, as well as several training areas in Western Russia along the Periphery to the Ukraine border.”
The report cited an increase in activity at three Crimean sites and five western Russian sites.
Dmitry Peskov (Kremlin spokesperson) said Friday that Moscow was protecting its own security as he answered questions about Russian troops being built up near Ukraine.
Peskov said that Russia was moving its own troops onto its territory, against the background of extremely unfriendly actions taken by NATO, the United States, and other European countries, who have been carrying out high-unambiguous manoeuvres right near our borders.
“This makes it necessary for us to implement certain security measures.”
Maxar photographs from the past showed a large concentration of military equipment at Soloti’s Russian staging grounds close to the Ukrainian border. These photos were taken in December and show it more than the September images.
Another photo showed a continuing buildup at Yelnya (a Russian village located around 160 miles (226 km) north the Ukrainian border), and at Pogonovo, the training area near Voronezh, in the south.
Maxar Technologies has more images from yesterday’s Crimea. They show an entire Russian army at the Opuk training zone, 150 to 160 miles south of the border on Wednesday
Satellite image taken on 22 December shows the deployment of a Russian combat group at Opuk Training Area in Crimean Peninsula, Russia’s annexed territory in 2014.
A satellite image take on December 22 shows a Russian battle group taking part in a manoeuvre amid a frenzy of military exercises the same day as President Putin held his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow
It came a day after Putin on Thursday accused NATO and the US of planning to deploy hypersonic missiles – which have not yet been successfully developed – to Ukraine.
Russian ruler blamed NATO’s militarization of ex-Soviet states like Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for the crisis that has erupted and threatened to escalate. Russia is able to defend itself at all costs.
Defence sources claimed that the Black Sea Sukhoi Su-27SM3 fighter planes were stationed at Krasnodar to challenge Western and Ukrainian warships, which they considered to be threatening Russia’s border.
A fleet statement stated that Su-27SM3 Duos were escorted Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers during training flights and practiced airborne duty. They also followed mock transgressor vessels, proving an intent to illegally cross the Russian Sea Border.
A separate announcement was made by the central military district, which announced an increase of 50 percent in drills to 2022. This would mean that almost one daily drill will be conducted.
This video captures five MiG-31BM-class interceptor fighters that were stationed in the area. Also, in Kemerovo were 500 troops involved in mobile defence drills.
According to a report, the exercise saw the simulated enemy attempt to breach the defenses using heavy-armoured vehicles.
“The tank unit crews destroyed enemy tanks using mobile defense tactics. This includes the creation of multiple positions along different lines to each combat vehicle.
The tank’s position changes after each shot.
“The combat vehicle crews, changing their firing positions mimic the fire from more equipment, forcing the enemy to reply, thus revealing themselves for vehicles in ambush which fire in a volley on the targets.
Colonel General Alexander Lapin was the central district commander and stated: “We will continue building up the combat capability of the troops in the district and maintaining it at a level which ensures Russia’s military security with its allies.”
More than 1000 infantry soldiers were trained in artillery and missile fire at Volgograd with Msta-S self-propelled howitzers 152mm and Tornado-G rocket launchers and T-90A tanks.
Buryatia’s motorised riflemen, riding on infantry fighting vehicle-equipped vehicles, stopped an enemy’s offensive in freezing temperatures. Russian airborne soldiers were practicing in Ulyanovsk’s ‘high-precision shoot championship’.
It was revealed that Russian troops stationed on Ukraine’s west border with Transnistria (a Moldovan separatist area) were drilled for ‘radiation chemical and biological protection.
Russian troops were stationed in the Arctic to establish a communication system under harsh winter conditions. They also set up firing ranges in Murmansk.
According to Interfax-AVN, the drills are being conducted with participation by troops and military equipment to enhance firing and driving skill and continue tactical and specific training.
Mass burial sites were being dug along the Ukraine border as a ‘priority’, Russian outlet MK reported, citing leaked legal documents.
According to the document, graves were being built near crematoriums.
Yesterday, Russian troops were engaged in an escalating frenzy at the Ukrainian border after Vladimir Putin warned NATO and US to “go to hell”, igniting fears about an invasion.
Five MiG-31BM fighter jets were used to practice yesterday. Each of these sites can hold 100 people.
Yesterday, more than 1000 troops participated in firing drills in five areas. Meanwhile, 500 soldiers were involved in mobile defense drills with tanks.
Russian troops were sent to the Arctic to set up communications systems in extreme winter conditions. They did this at Murmansk firing range.
Moscow requested that NATO dismember Ukraine and all other ex-Soviet states and reverse its military deployments in Central Europe and Eastern Europe last week.
NATO’s core principle is that any country can apply for membership.
While the US and its allies say they won’t give Russia the guarantee that Putin seeks, American officials have been meeting with European allies ahead of Geneva negotiations.
Putin stated Thursday that Washington was open to discussing the suggestions and could hold talks at Geneva’s beginning of next year.
An American official claimed that Washington was open to talks “as soon as January”
Putin stated that there must be no eastward NATO expansion. They have the ball in their court. He said, “They need to give us an answer.”
Putin stated that the US partners had told them that they were ready to start this discussion and these negotiations at the beginning of next year in Geneva. He also said that representatives from each side have been appointed.
This week’s intensifying tensions reached their peak when Putin promised that Russia would take the appropriate retaliatory military measures to counter what he described as an aggressive West.
Putin compared the building up of NATO forces in former Soviet Union countries to Russia’s establishment of a military presence at Canada and Mexico.
He replied, “Is this us? Are we putting missiles at the US border?” It’s not us who brought missiles to our country.
Is this an unreasonable demand that we not have offensive systems within our homes?
“We have made clear and precise statements to them that they cannot accept any more Nato expansions eastward. It is now you [the West]Whom must we give guarantees, immediately?
Putin asserts that the Cold War was over and NATO promised Russia to respect its territorial history and not extend the alliance beyond central and east Europe.
Many eastern European countries feared that they might be forced back into Russia, or become client states of Russia again and lose their newfound freedoms.
Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined Nato 1999. They were followed in 2004 with Bulgaria, Romania. Slovakia. Slovenia.
The Nato membership grew to 30 countries in the following years with additions of Albania, Montenegro, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.