Russia’s Mach 9 hypersonic missile still has accuracy issues, Vladimir Putin admits

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on July 26 that Russia’s Zircon hypersonic missile still needs to be more accurate. This is a rare public admission of a flaw in one of Russia’s top weapons. During a meeting with Russian Navy personnel, Putin said recent combat use has shown progress and promised that work on the missile will continue. The Zircon, also known as the 3M22 Zircon, is a hypersonic cruise missile that Russia has used in strikes against Ukraine. It is designed to travel at extremely high speeds, making it difficult for air defense systems to intercept. Putin says Zircon accuracy is improving During the meeting, Putin said Russia is still working on new offensive and defensive military technologies. He called the Zircon one of the country’s most important advanced weapons. “New means of destruction and protection are emerging. What is one “Zircon” worth? There is still work to be done with it, to look at its accuracy. Recent applications have shown that it is becoming more and more accurate. Few countries in the world have such weapons, and not only do we have them, we are improving them and will continue to do so,” Putin said. His comments show that Russia is still working to improve the missile, even though it is promoted as a key part of the next generation of weapons. He admitted its flaws but stressed that recent combat use has made the system better. Russian Navy highlighted as strategic force Putin also used the meeting to highlight how important the Russian Navy is for the country’s defense. He said the Navy is still a main part of Russia’s nuclear forces, along with land-based missiles and strategic bombers. He also praised Russia’s nuclear-powered submarines that carry intercontinental ballistic missiles. According to Putin, these submarines act as a strategic deterrent and can respond to attacks with what he called “unacceptable damage.” The Russian president further highlighted the country’s icebreaker fleet, claiming it has no equivalent elsewhere in the world. He also provided an update on the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle, saying the project is in its final development stage and is nearing operational deployment. Russia has increased Zircon use in Ukraine According to Ukrainian military reports, Russia has stepped up the use of Zircon missiles in attacks on Ukraine. Statements from the Ukrainian Air Force and regional commands show that Russia launched 20 Zircon missiles in the first 19 days of July. This is about two-thirds of the missile’s estimated yearly production. In comparison, Russian forces launched 15 Zircon missiles throughout June. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has estimated that Russia possessed more than 120 Zircon missiles in mid-July. Speed remains an advantage despite concerns Ukrainian military analysts say the Zircon remains a difficult weapon to stop because of its hypersonic speed, which allows it to reach targets in a matter of minutes and complicates interception efforts. However, Pavlo Lakiychuk, a retired captain first rank of the Ukrainian Navy and head of security programs at the Center for Global Studies Strategy XXI, said the missile’s main weakness is its accuracy. Putin’s latest comments appear to acknowledge that limitation while signaling that Russia intends to continue improving the missile as it expands its deployment. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.