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

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR), has revealed new information about Russia’s 3M22 Zircon missile. The missile, designed as an anti-ship weapon for Russia’s nuclear submarines and frigates, has been adapted for launch from Bastion-M coastal missile systems due to operational challenges.

HUR stated that despite its considerable cost, the missile carries a relatively small warhead weighing around 120 kilograms, lighter than the 150-kilogram warhead of Russia’s smaller Banderol cruise missile. The Zircon missile features a two-stage propulsion system, initially accelerated by a solid-fuel booster, followed by a main solid-fuel engine.

Guidance and stabilization systems guide the missile towards its target, transitioning to an inertial navigation system during cruise phase, and an active radar seeker during the final stage. Russia claims the missile can reach speeds of Mach 9, but HUR reports the highest recorded speed is around Mach 6.8. The missile's rear section is made from titanium with electro-hydraulic control systems and folding aerodynamic fins.

Russia has recently increased its use of ballistic weapons against Ukraine, including the upgraded Iskander-1000 missile, which reportedly has a larger engine and allows for longer-range strikes. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces increasing pressure on its air-defense stockpiles, with limited missiles for Patriot and other air-defense systems.