Russia has successfully test-fired Hypersonic missile from a nuclear submarine for the first time on October 4, 2021.

Key Facts

• The missile, named Zircon missile, was launched from the Severodvinsk.  submarine. Zircon hit a designated target in the Barents Sea.
• It was Zircon’s first launch from a submarine.
• Missile has been repeatedly test-fired from a navy frigate in the past.
• Missile would be commissioned in to Russian Navy in 2022.

The 3M22 Zircon or 3M22 Tsirkon missile is a scramjet powered, anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile. The missile is being tested by Russia, currently. It represents a further development of HELA (Hypersonic Experimental Flying Vehicle) which was developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Prototypes of the Zircon missiles were test-launched in 2012-2013 from a Tu-22M3 bomber in. By April 2017, Zircon had reached a speed of Mach 8 during a flight test.  Zircon was again test-fired on 3 June 2017. In November 2017, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev announced that missile was already in service.