IN last years The United States is intensively developing its national system missile defense. The desire of the US government to locate some elements of its missile defense system in Eastern Europe caused the start of the rocket race nuclear weapons between America and Russia.

The relevance of creating new supersonic weapons

In view of the intensive strengthening of American missile defense systems near the borders of Russia, the country's Ministry of Defense made a strategic decision to actively counter this by creating new hypersonic missiles. One of them is the ZK-22, the Zircon hypersonic missile. Russia, according to its military experts, will be able to effectively resist any potential aggressor only if it urgently modernizes its army and navy.

The essence of the modernization of the Russian Navy

Since 2011, according to the plan of the Russian Ministry of Defense, work has been carried out to create such unique weapons like the Zircon rocket. The characteristics of supersonic missiles are distinguished by one common quality - the highest speed. They have such a speed that the enemy may have difficulty not only in terms of intercepting them, but when trying to detect them. According to military experts, a very effective and deterrent to any aggression today is cruise missile"Zircon". The characteristics of the product allow us to consider this weapon as a modern hypersonic sword of the Russian air fleet.

Media statements

For the first time, statements about the start of development of a complex with a sea-based hypersonic cruise missile Zircon appeared in the media in February 2011. The weapon has become the latest comprehensive development of Russian designers.

The abbreviation 3K-22 became the presumed designation.

In August 2011, the CEO of the Tactical Missiles Concern, Boris Obnosov, announced that the corporation had begun developing a missile that would reach speeds of up to Mach 13, exceeding the speed of sound by 12-13 times. (For comparison: today the speed of attack missiles of the Russian Navy is up to Mach 2.5).

In 2012, the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation announced that the first test of the created hypersonic missile was expected in the near future.

Open sources reported that the development of the ship complex with the Zircon hypersonic missile was entrusted to NPO Mashinostroeniya. It is known that information about the technical characteristics of the installation is classified, alleged data were reported: range - 300-400 km, speed - 5-6 Mach.

There are unconfirmed reports that the missile is a hypersonic version of the BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile that was developed by Russian designers jointly with Indian specialists based on the Oniks P-800 missile. In 2016 (February), BrahMos Aerospace announced that a hypersonic engine for its brainchild could be developed within 3-4 years.

In March 2016, the media announced the start of tests of the Zircon hypersonic missile, which were carried out with ground complex start.

In the future, it was planned to install "Zircon" on the latest Russian submarines "Husky". IN given time these multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the 5th generation are being developed by the Malachite design bureau.

At the same time, information was published in the media that the state flight design tests of the rocket were in full swing. Upon their completion, a decision is expected to be made on the acceptance of the Zircon into service with the Russian Navy. In April 2016, information was published that the tests of the Zircon missile would be completed by 2017, and in 2018 it is planned to launch the installation in mass production.

Development and testing

In 2011, the Tactical Missiles concern began designing Zirkon hypersonic anti-ship missiles. The characteristics of the new weapons, according to experts, have much in common with the already existing Bolid complex.

In 2012 and 2013, a new missile was tested at the Akhtubinsk test site. It was used as a carrier. The results of the tests were the conclusions about the cause of the unsuccessful launch and short-term flight of the warhead. Subsequent testing was carried out in 2015 using the ground launch complex as a carrier. Now the Zircon rocket was launched from an emergency launch. The characteristics of 2016 during testing gave a positive result, which prompted the developers to announce in the media the creation of a new hypersonic missile weapon.

Where are the new missiles planned to be used?

After the completion of further planned state tests, hypersonic missiles will be equipped with Huskies (multipurpose nuclear submarines), the Leader cruisers and the upgraded nuclear cruisers Orlan and Peter the Great. The heavy nuclear cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will also be equipped with the Zirkon anti-ship missile. The characteristics of the new ultra-high-speed weapon are much superior to similar models - for example, such as the "Granit" complex. Over time, it will be replaced by the ZK-22. The Tsirkon missile will be used by exceptionally promising and modernized submarines and surface vessels.

Specifications

  • The range of the missile is 1500 km.
  • The installation has a speed of about 6 Mach. (Mach 1 equals 331 meters per second).
  • Warhead ZK-22 weighs at least 200 kg.
  • 500 km - the radius of destruction, which has a hypersonic missile "Zircon".

The characteristics of the weapon give grounds to judge the superiority of the army owning it over the enemy, who does not have such weapons.

Engine and fuel

An object with a speed of at least 4,500 km/h is considered hypersonic or ultra-high-speed. When creating such weapons, developers face many scientific and technical problems. Among them, the most relevant questions are how to accelerate a rocket using a traditional jet engine and what kind of fuel to use? Russian scientists-developers made a decision: to accelerate the ZK-22, use a special rocket-ramjet engine, which is characterized by supersonic combustion. These engines operate on the new fuel "Decilin - M", which is characterized by increased energy consumption (20%).

Areas of science involved in the development

High temperature is a common medium in which the Zircon rocket performs its maneuvering flight after acceleration. The characteristics of the homing system at supersonic speed during the flight can be significantly distorted. The reason for this is the formation of a plasma cloud, which can close the target from the system and damage the sensor, antenna and controls. For flight to hypersonic speeds missiles must be equipped with more advanced avionics. Serial production of the ZK-22 involves such sciences as materials science, engine building, electronics, aerodynamics and others.

For what purpose was the Zircon rocket (Russia) created?

The characteristics obtained after state tests give reason to believe that these supersonic objects can easily overcome the enemy's anti-tank defenses. This became possible due to two features inherent in the ZK-22:

  • The speed of the warhead at an altitude of 100 km is Mach 15, i.e. 7 km/sec.
  • Being in a dense atmospheric layer, already before approaching its target, the warhead performs complex maneuvers, which makes it difficult for the enemy's missile defense system to work.

Many military experts, both Russian and foreign, believe that the achievement of military-strategic parity directly depends on the availability of hypersonic missiles.

About prospects

The media is actively circulating information about the United States lagging behind Russia in terms of the development of hypersonic missiles. In their statements, journalists refer to data from American military research. The appearance in service with the Russian army is even more modern than the Zircon missile, hypersonic weapons expected by 2020. For US missile defense, considered one of the most advanced systems in the world, the emergence of extreme high-speed nuclear weapons in Russian Air Force will be, according to journalists, a real challenge.

An undeclared high-tech arms race continues in the world. belong to the latest technologies which in the 21st century will play a decisive role in the outcome of the war. It is no coincidence that in the 2000s, US President George W. Bush signed a directive making the possibility of delivering a rapid global strike with the help of hypersonic high-precision cruise missiles a reality.

It is easy to guess who it was intended for. This is probably why, in October 2016, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the use of the latest cruise missiles in the X-101, the range of which is about 4500 km.

The Zircon hypersonic missile, whose characteristics guarantee a colossal advantage in the armament of the army possessing it, is the "golden dream" of any general, minister and president. The presence of such weapons can be a significant deterrent in any military conflict.

Hypersonic technologies, which were embodied in the Russian Zircon missile, are a new word in the military sphere. This fact is acknowledged by both Russian and foreign experts. In "Zircon" it was possible to achieve the highest manufacturability. And even if the project is classified, it is already known about successful tests.

Judging by the declared characteristics, the main trump card of this weapon is speed. About 8 M, this is more than 9000 km / h, which was recorded at the peak of the trajectory - this is a guarantee that it is absolutely impossible to intercept a missile with existing defenses.

History of hypersonic missiles

The era of hypersonic missiles can be counted from the appearance of the first prototypes. Already Nazi Germany led such developments, but, obviously, the technologies were not developed enough to prepare a successful solution. Hypersound has always attracted the attention of the world's leading military powers. The possession of such weapons guaranteed a significant advantage in any possible conflict.

The first successes had to wait a long time. The Soviet Union received a successful project only in the 80s of the twentieth century. The Kh-90 GELA missile was able to reach approximately 3,000 km/h. But the developments were urgently curtailed due to the collapse of the country and a catastrophic lack of budget.

The X-90 GELA turned out to be a very successful weapon.

She could carry two nuclear warheads, because of the plasma cloud formed around her - to remain invisible to detection systems. The main trump cards - the speed of 2.5 M and also the ability to maneuver - made the interception of the missile very difficult task. Recall that the speed M is the Mach speed, or the Mach number. In fact, this is the speed of sound propagation, it is different at different heights: near the ground it is 1224 km / h, at an altitude of 20 km - 1062 km / h

The second round of development of hypersonic weapons has already started in a new country, Russia. Presumably, tests began to be carried out in the mid-00s. Already in 2011, the project began to be finalized and improved. The new missile was named 3K22 Zircon. Tests and improvements passed quickly enough. It took only a few years, from 2012 to the end of 2013. Already in 2016, it was announced that the project was recognized as successful and would go into service.

The main difficulties at hypersonic speeds

Hypersonic and supersonic technologies took so long to develop for the simple reason that their implementation required the latest ideas and unique engineering solutions.

Today, anti-ship missiles are widely used, which develop a speed of 3-4 thousand km / h or 2.5-3 M. But such cruise weapons have their drawbacks. So, they are launched in the direction of the target, deprived of the ability to effectively maneuver. Rockets are gaining great height, which almost immediately allows you to detect them and calculate the trajectory of movement. The attacked object has more chances to successfully leave the affected area.

More high speeds(which Zircon is currently developing) led to understandable difficulties.

Flights even in the upper layers of the atmosphere (about 20 km) with more than 3 M of speed were marked by the appearance of a thermal barrier. Due to air resistance, the main parts were subjected to serious heat. So, the air intakes reached 3000C, and other parts, even with excellent streamlining qualities, were heated up to 2500.


During the tests, it became clear that:

  • duralumin elements, widely used in aviation, greatly lose strength already at 2300;
  • at 5200 titanium and its alloys begin to deform;
  • at 6500, the melting of magnesium and aluminum begins, even heat-resistant steel significantly loses its rigidity.

If we talk about a flight altitude of less than 20 km (which would lead to difficulties in detecting and intercepting), then the heating of the skin would reach 10,000C, which no known metal can withstand. Temperature is the main problem of hypersonic speeds.

Even if we do not take into account the huge heating of the metal and the parts necessary for guidance, the fuel begins to boil and decompose, losing its properties.

The problem could be solved with the use of hydrogen. But in liquid form, it is quite dangerous and difficult to store. And in the gaseous it takes up a large volume and has a low efficiency. Serious and long developments required an antenna operating at radio frequency. Classical signal receivers certainly burned out in a matter of seconds of hypersonic flight. The lack of communication with the center would lead to uncontrollable weapons and the loss of very important advantages.

Hypersonic missile "Zircon"

The solutions used on the Zircon hypersonic missile were tested on the Kh-90 GELA. Then unique developments made it possible to significantly increase top speed new carrier. For example, in order to catch a radio signal, they began to use a plasma cloud that formed in flight.

In order to reduce the heating of all parts of the rocket, it was decided to use fuel with a high hydrogen content mixed with water and kerosene. The bottom line was that the mixture was heated and fed into a mini-reactor, where hydrogen was released for acceleration. The reaction itself was accompanied by a decrease in temperature, which made it possible to cool the shell and parts. All these ideas made it possible to come close to achieving even supersonic.

Known specifications 3K22 "Zircon"

The Zircon's speed allows it to freely bypass all existing this moment missile defense and air defense systems. In support of these words, data from open sources are provided that advanced American systems anti-missiles react to an object in 8-10 seconds. It is obvious that the Zircon, even at cruising speed, will overcome 15-20 km during this time and turn into an unattainable goal. He will not be able to catch up, not to intercept.


Little is known about the armament of the missile. However, today Zircon is positioned as a complex of anti-ship missiles. Probably, its main targets will be well-fortified aircraft carriers. Hence the second name - "aircraft carrier killer".

Design and where Zircon will be used

Rocket "Zircon" for a long time was kept in the strictest confidence. And today, very few people managed to see this weapon with their own eyes. Nevertheless, we can conclude that the length of the rocket reaches 8 ... 10 m. It has a tail, as well as fairings in the middle part.

characteristic feature can be called the nose, which is a flattened fairing, distributed to the sides.

It is planned to replace the P-700 Granit complex with hypersonic missiles. To date, the flagships of the fleet, the Admiral Nakhimov and Peter the Great, were armed with them and carriers of the Onyx and Caliber types. After their reconstruction, it is likely that the Zircons will form the basis of weapons.


Already in 2018, "Admiral Nakhimov" should undergo a complete modernization. "Peter the Great" - in 2022. New projects are also calculated for arming with Zircons.
These include:

  • nuclear destroyers of the Leader project;

    • submarines of projects 885M "Ash-M" and "Husky".

According to the possible number of missiles, it is planned to install up to 60 Zircons on the ships Admiral Nakhimov and Peter the Great.

Hypersonic projects of the USA and other countries

Leading analysts of the world admit that Russia has managed the almost impossible, having overcome the speed of 7 Mach. Until recently, such acceleration was considered unattainable. "Zircon" flies at a speed of 8 M.

Zircon's competitors

The main competitor of Zircon is the US project AHW, which is capable of accelerating to Mach 7.5. It, like the Russian development, is a secret. It is only known that his tests pass with varying degrees of success. In 2011, out of two launches, one ended in an explosion. In 2014, the Americans, presumably, also failed.


Another direction - X-43A and X-51 Wave Ryder missiles give out 9.65 and 5.1 M, respectively. But the first tests showed that the engine on the X-43 worked no more than 11 seconds, and on the X-51 - 6 minutes. China is imposing serious competition on Russia and the United States. The PRC is developing a DF-ZF project. It is believed that the speed of the rocket fluctuates in the range of 5 ... 10 M. A serious advantage of the Chinese is that they plan to develop hypersonic weapons for installation on aircraft.

The future of the 3K22 project, if successfully implemented, is obvious.

If this super-secret project really gives out the declared characteristics in terms of speed and range of destruction, then this type of weapon was decades ahead of its time. Experts believe that the most advanced powers will be able to neutralize the advantages of Zircon not earlier than in 30 ... 50 years.

The adopted missiles will provide Russia with an advantage at sea. Based aboard submarines, they will protect the nearest borders of our country, threatening the enemy's large maritime formations.

Video

The American television channel CNBC reported: tests of the Zircon hypersonic missilewent well

Citing sources familiar with US intelligence reports, CNBC reported that on December 10, 2018, another test of the Zircon ship-based hypersonic missile was conducted in Russia. According to the interlocutors of the TV channel, during the test, the rocket accelerated to a speed eight times the speed of sound (Mach 8, or about 9800 km / h). Earlier it was reported that the speed of the Zircons should exceed the speed of sound by 5-6 times. "Successful test carried out on last week, showed that the Russians were able to achieve a stable missile flight, which is critical in the development of hypersonic weapons, ”one of the military experts explained to CNBC.

Interlocutors of the CNBC television channel noted that the United States is not yet able to reliably protect its ships and other objects from Zircons.

Work on the latest so-called 3K22 interspecific missile system with the 3M22 missile, developed by the Reutov NPO Mashinostroeniya Corporation, has been underway since at least 2011. France is doing the same. China tested the GZLA WU-14.

In Russia, launches of the latest hypersonic product have been carried out for several years, but only today some test results and performance characteristics of the rocket have been declassified.

“In tests, the new Russian hypersonic anti-ship missile Zircon reached eight speeds of sound,” a source in the military-industrial complex said.

"During the tests of the rocket, it was confirmed that its speed on the march reaches Mach 8," the source said. However, he did not specify when and from what platform the launch was carried out. The source added that Zircon can be launched from the same launchers, which are used for Caliber and Onyx missiles.

Cruise missiles "Zirkon" (3M22) are being developed in the corporation "Tactical Missiles" at least since 2011. According to open information, the range of the rocket can be up to 400 kilometers. The export version of the Zircon missile, according to the assumption of USATU specialists, is anti-ship missiles "BrahMos II".

https://youtu.be/imPNYBcCO-4?t=2

Watch the video

https://youtu.be/06WBFscK6eQ?t=4

The technical characteristics of Zircon are currently classified. Despite the fact that tests of the Zircon have been going on for a long time, there is very little information about the rocket. There is no data whether there is an aviation version of it.

Nevertheless, some tactical and technical characteristics of the Zircon missile can already be identified, based on the history and dynamics of the design and testing process of the 3M22 product.

What is the rocket for, what is the likely target?

Hypersonic cruise missiles "Zircon" will be armed primarily Russian warships and submarines. How does Zircon differ from the already more or less well-known AGBO product - aeroballistic hypersonic combat equipment (it is also product 4202)?

Firstly,

unlike hypersonic combat equipment, the Zircon performs the entire flight in the atmosphere, well below the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and space.

Secondly,

if product 4202 is a strategic system for hitting a target at a distance of thousands of kilometers, then 3M22 is developing a line of heavy anti-ship missiles "Basalt" - "Granite" - "Onyx", destroying surface and ground targets at a distance of 300-400 km.

The scope of application imposes severe restrictions on the strength of the structure, units and other performance characteristics on Zircon. At hypersonic speeds, a high-temperature flow acts on the rocket. It causes the structure to heat up to several thousand degrees (moreover, the lower the flight altitude, the greater the load).

“One of the carriers of the Zircon missile should be the fifth-generation Husky submarine developed by the Malachite Marine Engineering Bureau”

At the same time, the Zircon should not only fly to a certain area, but, having found a target, overcome the enemy’s air defense. Against the background of electronic interference, the rocket must identify the desired object and be guaranteed to hit it. Hence the extremely high requirements. Taking into account the speed of the Zircon missile, its RLGSN must operate under maximum load conditions.

The navigation system of the rocket, which controls the flight on the marching section, is distinguished by accuracy and speed. In the final section of the trajectory, the target is identified by the radar homing head, which will be interfered with by false targets and electronic interference.

"Zircon" for a potential adversary is a goal that will not be able to cope not only with the air defense systems in service with a potential adversary, but also with promising ones, work on which is only underway.

A brief history of the creation of a hypersonic anti-ship missile

Let's restore the chronology of events in order to assess what opportunities it gives Russian Navy rocket "Zircon".

The first mentions in open sources about the creation of a missile system with a hypersonic anti-ship operational missile "Zirkon" 3K22 appeared in the media at the end of 2011. Later, the corporate newspaper of NPO Mashinostroeniya Tribuna VPK wrote that in 2011, a group of chief designers on the 3M22 topic was created in one of the directorates.

In 2011, the Central Institute of Aviation Motors from Lytkarino near Moscow showed hypersonic vehicles at the MAKS air show. Models of rockets were exhibited at the institute's stand unusual shape- similar to the Australian platypus (they had a flattened spade fairing and a box-shaped body).

It was then that the name of the promising Zircon missile system was also announced, the creation was officially announced for the first time only now. By the way, the Indian company Brahmos announced work on hypersonic devices, demonstrating the layout of the same "platypus".

Interesting information is provided by the annual report of the Corporation tactical missile weapons Ural design and engineering Bureau "Detal"(one of the areas of his work is the development of radio altimeters). In 2011, on the topic "Zircon", a project of two products was approved and sent to the customer (NPOmash) - Zircon-S-ARK And "Zircon-S-RV". Experts believe that the abbreviation RV means a radio altimeter, and ARC means an automatic radio compass.

In the same year NPO "Granit-Electron", lead developer radio-electronic complexes Russian Navy, reported on the creation of a project for 3M22 autopilot and inertial navigation systems. In the report for 2011 of Orenburg Software "Strela"(producing anti-ship cruise missiles, including the P-800 Oniks), the priority for the coming years is the creation of a production base for the serial production of Zircon missiles.

According to the report of NPO Mashinostroeniya Corporation for 2012, the development of industrial production technology has begun laser and optoelectronic systems of the complex of transceivers and computing facilities for guidance of hypersonic missiles.

It was at this time that the name "Zircon" disappeared from all open sources. Even from the Strela PA report for 2012, items on the creation of a base for the production of a new rocket were removed.

At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin announced the creation of a super-holding on the basis of the Corporation for Tactical Missiles and NPO Machine Building, which should deal with hypersonic technologies.

Later, the idea of ​​creating a hypersonic industrial association on such a scale was abandoned in favor of merging with the Reutov NPOmash machine-building plant located in Dubna design bureau "Rainbow", which develops and produces air-launched missiles, including cruise missiles.

In the summer of 2012, at the test site of the 929th Flight Research Center in Akhtubinsk, a hypersonic air-launched cruise missile was tested. The carrier of the missile was the Tu-22M3 bomber.

In September 2013, Boris Obnosov, head of the Corporation for Tactical Missiles, admitted that Russia had already tested products with a speed of about Mach 4.5.

Hypersonic missile and heavy cruiser upgrades

After 2013, information about the missiles of the 3K22 project again disappeared from open sources. In the fall of 2015, they started talking about the rocket in connection with the modernization of Admiral Nakhimov.

According to an agreement between PO "Sevmash"(engaged in the re-equipment of TARKR) and the corporation Almaz-Antey, the latter should supply ten vertical launchers (UVPU) ZS-14-11442M for the ongoing modernization of the heavy nuclear missile cruiser at the enterprise project 11442.

Carrying eighty hypersonic Zircons, Peter the Great will be capable of destroying not only a couple of attack aircraft carrier groups of a potential enemy, but the entire navy of such a power as Turkey in a matter of minutes.

According to reports, one of the carriers of the Zircon should be a fifth-generation submarine. "Husky", the development of which was started by the Marine Engineering Bureau "Malachite". As conceived by the developers, the latest nuclear submarine is designed on the same basic platform in two versions. First, multi-purpose, focused on combating enemy submarines. Secondly, anti-aircraft SSGN, armed with cruise missiles, including Zircons.

From the appearance of the first information about the new rocket and the creation of a group of chief designers to the start of testing, only five years passed. Probably, Zircon is based on technical solutions that are largely ready-made and tested.

“State tests of Zircon, in accordance with the contract, are planned to be completed in 2017, and next year start its mass production,” said the representative of the defense industry.

Cruise missiles "Zirkon" (3M22) are designed, first of all, to replace the heavy anti-ship missiles of the "Granit" complexes in the arsenal of the fleet and should be included in the armament of promising ships of the oceanic zone (missile cruisers) type "Leader" and modernized nuclear cruisers of project 1144 "Orlan".

According to channel sources, US intelligence reports say that Russia will be able to start mass production of Zircons in 2021, and their deliveries to the troops will begin in 2022.

The name "Zircon" was not mentioned by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his message Federal Assembly March 1, 2018, a significant part of which was devoted to the presentation of new types of weapons, including hypersonic ones. “The possession of such weapons, of course, gives serious advantages in the field of armed struggle. Its power, power, as military experts say, can be enormous, and its speed makes it invulnerable to today's missile defense and air defense systems, since anti-missiles, in a simple way, simply cannot catch up with them. Russia has such weapons. We already have,” Putin said at the time, referring to the Kinzhal air-launched system.

2019-01-16T18:01:40+05:00 Sergey SinenkoDefense of the Fatherlandarmy, armed forces, rocket, watch videoTechnical characteristics of the Zircon missile The American television channel CNBC reported: tests of the Zircon hypersonic missile were successful Citing sources familiar with the reports of the US intelligence services, CNBC reported that on December 10, 2018, another test of the Zircon ship-based hypersonic missile was conducted in Russia. According to the interlocutors of the TV channel, during the test, the rocket accelerated to a speed, in ...Sergei Sinenko Sergei Sinenko [email protected] Author In the middle of Russia

The range of the first modification of the "Zircon" was about 500 km at a speed of 2.5 km / s . In other words, the speed of the rocket is almost eight times the speed of sound. And this means only one thing: by no means air defense don't knock her down. For example, the reaction time of the US Aegis air defense missile system is about 8-10 seconds. "Zircon" at a speed of 2.5 km / s during this time will fly 20-25 km. Ground-based interceptor missiles simply will not have time to catch up with him.

There is already information that the first ships to be armed with the ZK22 will be the Admiral Nakhimov heavy nuclear missile cruiser and the Peter the Great nuclear cruiser. Each of them has 20 Granit anti-ship missile launchers, each installation can accommodate three Zircons. That is, 60 newest missiles instead of 20.

As military expert Konstantin Sivkov noted, the adoption of the Zircon will lead to the fact that the role of the US aircraft carrier forces will be greatly weakened in favor of Russian nuclear cruisers.

US Congressman Trend Franks commented on the Russian military novelty: “The hypersonic era is approaching. Enemy developments are fundamentally changing the fundamental laws of war." Congressman is right. The appearance of "Zircon" with nuclear warheads makes any missile defense system meaningless for the next thirty years. America has already begun to rewrite its main militaristic document - military doctrine, since the techniques and scenarios indicated in the current version have lost their relevance. In particular, the West will have to radically upgrade its defensive weapons. How to do it, they have not yet figured out, but it will cost the US taxpayers a pretty penny.

Serial name: 3m22;

Affiliation: interspecies missile system 3k22 "Zircon";

Developer: NPO Mashinostroeniya;

Start of development: 2011.

Main characteristics:

  • Hypersonic (that is, at least 5 times faster speed sound);
  • Winged, unmanned, single launch;
  • High precision.

Appearance: box-shaped chopped body made of new heat-resistant alloys, flattened spade-shaped fairing ("nose").

New Russian rocket Zircon.

Tactical and technical characteristics of a new generation rocket

Information is indicative, according to indirect data and unconfirmed information, since officially the Russian hypersonic cruise missile Zirkon 3M22 has not yet entered service.

Parameter Meaning A comment
Launcher 3s14, "revolving" type, deck and below deck placement 2 to 8 missiles

Deck placement - vertical launch, below-deck placement - inclined
Length 8-10 m The latest Russian missiles "Onyx" (P-800) and "Caliber" (3m54), similarly launched from 3s14
Warhead weight 300-400 kg
flight altitude small (30-40 km), low dense layers of the atmosphere The flight is carried out under the influence of its main engine (not starting, not accelerating and not all kinds of auxiliary ones that correct the course)

At lower altitudes, due to air resistance at this speed, the skin can simply melt
Mach number from 5 to 8 (according to some statements, this is not the limit) Primitively speaking, the Mach number shows how many times the speed of the 3M22 cruise missile (at a specific altitude) exceeds the speed of sound. At different heights, the speed of sound is different (the higher, the lower), so the Mach number helps control the stability of the rocket and adherence to the course

Mahmeter readings:

Below 0.8 - subsonic;

0.8 - 1.2 - transonic;

1 - 5 - supersonic;

More than 5 - hypersonic
Range 300-500 km The delivery of the warhead is carried out by new Russian rocket carriers
Trajectory arbitrary, including winding (for bypassing air defense), with enveloping terrain (for bypassing radar facilities) Unlike ballistic missiles, controlled from the inside (independently) and from the outside
guidance Inertial + radio altimeter + active radar + optoelectronic complex for searching for targets
Engine direct-flow, supersonic combustion It is possible to use fuel with increased energy intensity "Decilin-M".



The expected movement of the new generation rocket can be seen in the report of Channel One.

Possible carriers (sea-based):

  • heavy nuclear cruisers of the "Orlan" type; "Peter the Great"; "Admiral Nakhimov";
  • heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet" Soviet Union Kuznetsov" (after modernization);
  • nuclear destroyers "Leader" (project 23560);
  • nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M series (improved fourth generation, project 885m); "Antey" (949a); "Husky" (fifth generation, in a special modification).

Background of the Russian hypersonic cruise missile

The Soviet Union was the first to arm itself with mass-produced anti-ship cruise missiles. Zircon has become the latest development of Russian scientists. And the first copy was the Termit rocket (P-15). In the 70s, supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles of a new generation (X-50) were developed, but the work was not completed due to the collapse of the USSR.

project "Spiral" was launched this year

First hypersonic aircraft should be an upper stage aircraft for the Spiral project (orbital aircraft), launched in 1965.

Accelerator-scout, - he is the product "50-50" - is:

  • 38-meter tailless aircraft;
  • triangular wing with a 16.5 m long swirl;
  • lowered bow;
  • hypersonic air intake;
  • fundamentally new turbojet engines:
    on kerosene: M = 4, range = 6-7 thousand km,
    on liquid hydrogen: M=5, range = 12000 km.

The aircraft was tested at TsAGI, but in the 70s the project was also closed.

In 1979, they again returned to the topic of hypersonic engines. To recreate the conditions of their work, we used anti-aircraft missiles: instead of the warhead, they put a block with equipment for testing.

  • Based on the 5V28 missiles, which were just about to be sent for decommissioning, there was a hypersonic flying laboratory "Cold". For seven launches in 1991-1999. the operating time of the tested E-57 engine was brought up to 77 seconds, the speed - up to 1855 m / s (~ 6.5M);
  • On the basis of the Rokot launch vehicle (a descendant of the intercontinental UR-100N), the Igla flying laboratory was created. The layout of which can still be seen at air shows. Working conditions of the laboratory: M = 6-14, altitude = 25-50 km, flight time - 7-12 minutes.

Timeline of development of hypersonic cruise missiles


NPO Mashevsky patent shows a feature of the rocket - a detachable warhead

The development of the hypersonic Zircon belongs to the NPO Mashinostroeniya and begins in 2011.


NPO Mashevsky patent shows a feature of the rocket - a detachable warhead
date Source Event
End 2011 Air show "Max", Lytkarino The first mention of the complex "Zircon" 3K22, prototypes of hypersonic projectiles
2011 Corporate newspaper "Tribuna VPK" NPOMasha For the 3M22 project, a group of chief designers was officially formed
2011 Annual report of PKB Detal Draft designs "Zirkon-S-ARK" (automatic radio compass) and "Zirkon-S-RV" (radio altimeter) approved
2011 Report of NPO "Granit-Electron" Draft designs and finished design documentation for inertial navigation and autopilot system 3M22
2011 Strela software report Plans for mass production of new products, including Zircon missiles
2012 Report of NPO Mashinostroeniya Development of technologies for the production of optoelectronic and laser guidance and detection systems for hyper- and supersonic missiles
2012 Dmitry Rogozin Unfulfilled plans to create a super-holding for the development of hypersonic technologies
Summer 2012 Open news sources Aktyubinsk, polygon of the 929th state. flight research center, throw tests of Zirkon hypersonic cruise missiles from a Tu-22M3 bomber (successful and unsuccessful)
September 2013 Boris Obnosov A prototype of a hypersonic missile (4.5 M), the problem is a stable and long flight
Fall 2015 Modernization project "Admiral Nakhimov" Almaz-Antey, among other things, must supply the 3K22 complex, that is, Zircon, for the conversion of the cruiser, no later than 2018
December 15, 2015 News sources Arkhangelsk region, Nenoksa settlement, launch of an experimental sample (unsuccessful)
February 2016 News sources 3K22 will arm the modernized "Peter the Great" (project 1144, heavy nuclear cruiser), as well as fifth-generation Husky submarines in one of the options

Tests of anti-ship cruise missiles 3m22 Zirkon

News about the tests appeared several times in different news agencies, but there was no official confirmation, and the sources were also not disclosed. The reality of the alleged tests is in question - are they just a show of force to intimidate potential adversary?

They promise to take the promising missile into service in 2020, mass deliveries and the transition to hypersound are predicted for a longer period - by 2040.

Perspectives and criticism

According to the project, the Zirkon 3M22 anti-ship cruise missile of the new generation is universal, it can be used by almost all ships, as well as the army ( ground troops), military space forces, etc. However, due to the small amount of official information, many aspects of the design remain controversial.

Problem Possible Solution
Operability of a radio channel or a homing head under conditions of aerodynamic heating. When flying in low layers of the atmosphere, the projectile surrounds a cloud of plasma (a layer of ionized gases) and there is a serious distortion of target designation and radio exchange. For space descent vehicles, the problem of this property has not been solved. Nuclear warhead and a huge target (for example, a small town)
Decreasing speed to transonic (Mach number = 0.8) near the target, turning on the homing head
After determining the coordinates of the target, the separation power plant(by means of pyrodevices) and hitting the target with a planning combat homing module (moreover, less noticeable).
High-precision satellite guidance, hit by "smart" darts with homing or high-explosive projectiles (a very controversial solution, like a thermal imaging homing head)
Window for radio waves in the rocket tail (external control channel), multiple repetition of commands
Low noise immunity of existing anti-ship hypersonic cruise missiles
Radar homing head can melt from aerodynamic heating Application of high temperature oxide ceramics for fairings and body (can withstand 1500 degrees)

With the successful resolution of all possible problems, Zircon is a weapon that threatens to become exactly that formidable answer, as it is positioned in the media. It is assumed that the new Zircon missile will reduce the importance of aircraft carriers and capital ships in the battle, as well as stimulate other states to modernize the ship's air defense.