Vladimir Putin threatens West by firing new ‘unstoppable’ 6,670mph Zircon missile – World News

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s leader and former intelligence officer, today tested his country’s new Zircon – or Tsirkon – hypersonic missile, capable of hitting targets more than 600 miles away.

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Russia raises tensions with hypersonic missile test

Footage shows Russia today testing a new 6,670 mph Zircon missile – or Tsirkon missile – that can hit targets some 600 kilometers away.

Vladimir Putin, 69, has poured money into the development of a new nuclear cable missile that he claims is the “unstoppable” of Western air defenses.

Zircon, due to be delivered within weeks to Russia, fired the missile from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the Barents Sea and hit its target 625 miles in the White Sea.

“According to objective control data, the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile successfully hit a sea target located at a distance of about 1,000 km.

“The flight path of the hypersonic missile corresponds to the specified parameters.”

In December, Putin announced a “perfect” salvo launch involving Zircon.

In January, Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Kryvoruchko said: “State tests of the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile are nearing completion.

“From 2022, serial deliveries will begin.”

Zircon will be deployed on Russian frigates and later on submarines.

It was previously identified by a state-controlled TV channel in Moscow as Putin’s weapon of choice to wipe out American cities in the event of a nuclear conflict.

In December, Putin praised “our newest man [Zircon] Missiles fired from the sea at sea targets, and land targets.

“The tests were done successfully, flawlessly.

“This is a big event for our country, an important step in improving Russia’s security, in strengthening (our) defense capabilities.”

It is currently in “mass production”, he said, adding that he previously called the weapon “truly unrivaled… in the world”.

TV Zvezda – a channel owned by the Russian Defense Ministry – said of the footage: “The stealth features of Russia’s Zircon hypersonic missile have been revealed…

“The speed of the Zircon hypersonic missile is so high that it prevents enemy air defense systems from detecting its impact in time.

“Actually, its launch will only be known after the target has been hit.”

Viewers said the rocket also had a “altered trajectory” to avoid detection.

Previously, Captain Igor Krokhmal of the frigate said: “No one will see the missile launch or its flight. They will only see when the missile hits the target,” said the frigate’s commander, first-class captain Igor Krokhmal.

“A surface target, a coastal target. I don’t think there’s going to be anything against this in the next few years.”