Zircon missile

• In an attempt to hit a target in Kyiv, Russian forces launched a 3M22 Zircon missile, according to a report published in Ukrainian media.
• The report noted that one of the images specifically depicts a piece of debris bearing the “3M22” designation, which, along with the Kh-47 Kinzhal, is associated with the so-called “Putin’s wunderwaffe,” or the Russian military’s most popular “hypersonic” long-range strike weapons.
• If the use of Zircon is confirmed, it will be the first combat use of Russia’s newest hypersonic missile.

ABOUT ZIRCON MISSILE

• The missile is reportedly capable of flying with speeds up to Mach 9 and a range of 1000 km.
• It’s a two-stage missile that uses solid fuel in the first stage and a scramjet motor in the second stage.
• Zircon cruise missiles use cooled supersonic combustion ramjet engines, which power combustion by compressing air flowing at supersonic speeds due to the missile’s forward motion.