Putin to launch ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic Zircon missile during war games with China and South Africa

Vladimir Putin is set to unleash ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic Zircon missiles during his upcoming war games with China and South Africa.

The new Mach 9 nuclear-capable Zircon missiles, which travel at speeds of nearly 7,000mph, will be fired from the Russian warship Admiral Gorshkov during naval exercises off the coast of South Africa.

The ‘training launch’ of the missile, one of the world’s deadliest weapons, will be aimed at a ‘surface target’ at a distance of more than 310 miles.

The upcoming launch of the deadly missiles comes after the Admiral Gorshkov conducted an ‘electronic’ launch at an ‘enemy surface target’ as it sailed in the western Atlantic off the coast of United States last week. 

The Zircon missiles will also now be fired from the Russian frigate during naval drills between Russia, China and South Africa in the Indian Ocean.

Vladimir Putin is set to unleash ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic Zircon missiles during his upcoming war games with China and South Africa. Pictured: This image shows a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile being launched by the Gorshkov from the Barents Sea on May 28, 2022

The upcoming launch of the deadly missiles follows the Admiral Gorshkov conducting an ‘electronic’ launch at an ‘enemy surface target’ as it sailed in the western Atlantic off the coast of United States last week 

The three nations will engage in the war games from February 17 to 27 off South Africa’s east coast near the cities of Durban and Richards Bay. 

‘During the upcoming exercise with the navies of South Africa and China, a training launch of a Zircon hypersonic missile will be carried out, to be the first-ever during an event of this kind,’ a source told Russian state news agency TASS.

The Gorshkov has been closely monitored by NATO navies on its mission armed with the 6,670mph Mach 9 weapon which has a maximum 625 mile range.

The frigate is also carrying Kalibr missiles, a type used in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Last month, it emerged that the warship had staged war games and conducted an electronic launch of the Zircon missiles off the coast of the US after it deviated from its course. 

Terrifying footage showed the Russian Navy preparing for a nuclear launch as the hatch opened in preparation for the deadly missile to be launched.

‘The electronic launch and the work by the shipborne combat team confirmed the missile system’s designed characteristics demonstrated during preliminary and state trials,’ the vessel’s captain Igor Krokhmal said at the time.

Earlier last month, the frigate was escorted through British waters by the Royal Navy, and French and Spanish ships then escorted it through the Atlantic.

Launch of an ‘unstoppable’ Zircon nuclear-capable hypersonic missile from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate

Pictured: A sailor is on duty onboard of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate

The Russian frigate ‘Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov’ armed with Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic weapons leaves the naval base in Severomorsk on January 4

The Gorshkov, which is on its first deployment, set sail from Severomorsk on January 4. 

Putin has previously claimed the Zircon missiles have ‘no equivalent in the world’ and their arrival comes at a much-needed time for Russia after multiple setbacks in Ukraine. 

After setting sail on its first deployment on January 4, the vessel immediately fired a test launch of the nuclear-capable cutting-edge Zircon missiles into the Barents Sea, hitting a target 620 miles away in the White Sea, the Kremlin claimed.

Putin could hardly contain his joy announcing the news last month as he said: ‘I am sure that such powerful weapons will make it possible to reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and will help ensure the national interests of our country.’ 

Last month, it emerged that the warship had staged war games and conducted an electronic launch of the Zircon missiles off the coast of the US after it deviated from its course 

 

The president proudly said it was an ‘important, if not momentous, event’ as the vessel set sail in a task force from Severomorsk.

Moscow has boasted that the Gorshkov is ‘the most dangerous enemy of surface ships in the world’s oceans’ now it is armed with the new hypersonic missile.

The frigate’s captain Igor Krokhmal has said previously: ‘No one will see the missile launch or its flight.

‘They will only see when the missile hits the target.

‘A surface target, a coastal target. I don’t think there will be anything to counter this in the next few years.’ 

The vessel is set to reach the Indian Ocean in two weeks to join navies from China and Russia to conduct military drills.

The drills will happen around the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and will bring more focus on the push by Russia and China for global influence, and the refusal of South Africa — a leading voice on its continent — to side with the West and condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine. 

The South African government said it has a neutral stance over Ukraine and has called for dialogue and diplomacy, but the upcoming naval drills have led the country’s main opposition party to accuse the government of effectively siding with Russia.