The Russian Defense Ministry announced this morning the second flight test in two weeks of the Tsirkon hypersonic missile fired from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov. “The shooting was carried out from the waters of the White Sea at a marine target position located at a distance of more than 400 kilometers,” the ministry said in a statement. “According to objective control data, the flight of the hypersonic missile corresponded to the specified parameters. Firing from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov was recognized as successful, the target was hit.” The test two weeks ago was also launched from the Admiral Gorshkov. The ministry’s report was accompanied by a dramatic photograph of the test. (https://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12396257@egNews)
This latest successful test followed a report in TASS on Nov. 26 that production of the Tsirkon had begun at the Military-Industrial Corporation Research and Industrial Association of Machine Building (MIC NPO Mashinostroyenia) outside of Moscow. “A serial production of Tsirkon missiles is underway at the NPO Mashinostroyenia, although state trials of this product’s surface launches will continue,” a source “close to the situation” said. Today’s flight test was one of a series of five launches planned for the state trials that will run through December.
