The Russian hypersonic missile 3M22 Zircon is perhaps the biggest scam of the Russian Ministry of Defense, since due to the small warhead, this type of weapon is almost unable to withstand large ships, which, as stated, is the main task of these missiles .
This assessment was made by analysts of the militaristic portal Defense Express.
3M22 Zircon: what’s wrong with the rocket
The portal, citing its own sources, indicates that the weight of the 3M22 Zircon warhead is, according to preliminary estimates, about 100-150 kg, of which up to 40 kg of explosives.
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Zircon has a high-explosive fragmentation design, a rather uncharacteristic shape and low weight.
Thus, the power of this missile with a conventionally 150-kg warhead is significantly lower than the capabilities of missiles such as the X-47 Kinzhal (estimated weight of the warhead — 500 kg), X-type cruise missiles 101, X-555 and Caliber (warhead weight about 400 kg) and Onyx (300 kilograms of warhead).
The closest analogue of Zircon — anti-ship missiles X-31 with 150 kg and X-35 with 135 kilograms of explosive.
At the same time, the weight of the warhead directly affects the type of ship it can sink.
— In case of such weight — We are talking about 4500-5000 tons of water replacement. That is, ships of the corvette class, and not a frigate or destroyer, not like an aircraft carrier, whose water displacement is under 100,000 tons, — experts add.
Why does the Zircon missile have such a small warhead
As Defense Express points out, such a weight of the warhead missile is associated with the requirement to ensure the range specified in the tactical and technical specifications. Most likely we are talking about 1000 km.
— And if the rocket cannot deliver the appropriate weight to such a distance, then the simplest option — reduce the warhead, — the message says.
This also explains why the range of the 3M22 Zircon increased over time. At first it was 400 km, then 600 km, and then Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced 1000 km.
It is also noteworthy that the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, which belongs to the Russian Northern Fleet, is capable of carrying the Russian Zircon missile. On June 12, the launch vehicle Admiral Gorshkov arrived in the harbor of Havana, the capital of Cuba, with the goal of staging a show of force for the United States. Nearest American city — Key West, Florida — located at a distance of about 160 km from Havana Bay, where the Russian ships arrived.
Shelling of Ukraine with Zircon missiles
It was previously reported that the Russian Federation, during a massive shelling of Ukraine on February 7, 2024, could have used a 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile to strike Kiev.
In addition, on March 25, air defense forces reported that two Russian ballistic missiles were shot down during shelling of the capital. Their type is being established, but experts indicate that the Russians probably used Zircon missiles for the attack.
