Russia Test-Fires Its Latest Hypersonic Zircon Missile Near Finland And Sweden

 

Reuters: Russia shows off Zircon hypersonic cruise missile in test-launch at sea 

(Reuters) - Russia successfully test-fired a hypersonic Zircon cruise missile over a distance of about 1,000 km (625 miles), the defence ministry said on Saturday. 

The missile was fired from the Barents Sea and hit a target in the White Sea, it said. 

Video released by the ministry showed the missile being fired from a ship and blazing into the sky on a steep trajectory. 

President Vladimir Putin has described the Zircon as part of a new generation of unrivalled arms systems. Hypersonic weapons can travel at nine times the speed of sound, and Russia has conducted previous test-launches of the Zircon from warships and submarines in the past year.  

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Update #1: Russia test-fires its latest hypersonic Zircon missile (AP)  

Update #2: Russia Conducts Hypersonic Missile Test Near Finland & Sweden (Zero Hedge)  

WNU Editor: Russia, China, and the U.S. are the countries testing these missiles .... ‘National pride is at stake.' Russia, China, United States race to build hypersonic weapons (Science.org).

Pentagon Officials ‘Remain Baffled By Chinese Hypersonic Missile Technology’ (Update)

Vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John Hyten (pictured) said that China's hypersonic space weapons could be used to launch a surprise attack on the US and admitted that Beijing has more advanced technology 

 

Daily Mail: Pentagon officials ‘remain baffled by Chinese hypersonic missile technology’ after Beijing tested weapon that could deploy a nuke while travelling at five times the speed of sound 

* China's hypersonic weapon test fired a missile at five times the speed of sound

* Pentagon experts still baffled at how China managed to defy physics constraints 

* Test suggests China's hypersonic weapons more advanced than US and Russia 

* Purpose of the missile remains unknown as it was fired with no obvious target 

A hypersonic weapon test carried out by China in July featured a missile fired at five times the speed of sound - a technological feat which no other country has demonstrated, according to US intelligence. 

The hypersonic glide vehicle - a spacecraft with the ability to carry a nuclear warhead - fired a missile mid-flight over the South China Sea, catching Pentagon scientists unawares. 

Experts at Darpa - the Pentagon's advanced research agency - are apparently still baffled at how China was able to defy the constraints of physics to fire a weapon from the vehicle travelling at hypersonic speed, the Financial Times reports.  

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WNU Editor: Beijing has responded .... China Accuses U.S. of Fueling Nuclear War 'Panic' After Official Warns of Attack (Newsweek). 

Pentagon Officials ‘Remain Baffled By Chinese Hypersonic Missile Technology’ (Update)  

China’s hypersonic nuke ‘fired a SECOND missile mid-flight’ leaving Pentagon reeling as experts say it ‘defies science’ -- The SUN  

U.S. ‘not as advanced’ as China and Russia on hypersonic tech, Space Force general warns -- Politico  

China Hypersonic Missile Test Showed Unprecedented Capability: FT -- Bloomberg  

Space Force general: 'We're not as advanced as the Chinese or the Russians' with hypersonic missiles -- Space News 

Space Force general: 'We're not as advanced as the Chinese or the Russians' with hypersonic missiles -- The Hill  

A Space Force general said US hypersonic missile capabilities are 'not as advanced' China and Russia's -- Business Insider  

Space Force general: U.S. has a lot of catching up to do on hypersonic missile technology -- Space News  

China's 'Hypersonic Missile Test' Leaves Pentagon Officials 'Baffled' by Beijing's Advance -- Sputnik 

China’s hypersonic nuke ‘fired a SECOND missile mid-flight’ leaving Pentagon reeling as experts say it ‘defies science’ -- The SUN

Beijing Mocks America By Saying Their New 21,000mph Nuclear-Capable Hypersonic Missile Is 'A New Blow To The US's Mentality Of Strategic Superiority Over China (Update)

A report from the Financial Times, which cited five unnamed intelligence sources, said the Chinese military launched the Long March rocket in August carrying a 'hypersonic glide vehicle' into low orbit. It circled the globe before descending towards its target, which it missed by about two dozen miles. The system would be able to overcome US anti-ballistic missile defence systems that are based in Alaska and set up to shoot down projectiles coming over the North Pole - the Chinese system would be able to strike the US from the south  

Daily Mail: 'It is inevitable that China will take an upper hand over the US': Chinese state media celebrates new nuclear-capable 21,000mph missile that can circle Earth in low orbit before striking anywhere from space in MINUTES 

* Report from Financial Times said test showed China had made 'astounding progress' on hypersonic weapons 

* Hypersonic missile launched in August, circled the globe at low orbit and missed target by two dozen miles 

* US intelligence was caught off guard as US is one of eight nations developing their own hypersonic missiles 

* An op-ed in Chinese state media said the test shows the 'unstoppable trend that China is narrowing the gap with the US in some key military technologies' 

Beijing has mocked America by saying their secret test of a 21,000mph nuclear-capable missile, which orbited the globe before returning to Earth to strike its target, is a 'new blow to the US's mentality of strategic superiority over China'. 

The jibe follows a report from the Financial Times, which cited five unnamed intelligence sources, said the Chinese military launched the Long March rocket in August carrying a 'hypersonic glide vehicle' into low orbit. 

It circled the globe before descending towards its target, which is missed by about two dozen miles, in a technological development that would overcome US anti-ballistic missile systems.  

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WNU Editor: This new weapon will make America's missile defense system worthless. 

More News On China's Test Of A Nuclear-Capable Hypersonic Missile  

US should stop eyeing too much on China’s hypersonic missiles and broaden its horizons -- Global Times editorial  

China says new hypersonic missile a blow to US ‘strategic superiority’ -- NYPost  

Stop Poking the Dragon! China's Hypersonic Missiles Can Reach US & UK in Blink of Eye, Netizens Say -- Sputnik  

Beijing blasts nuclear-capable hypersonic missile right around globe: Terrifying new 21,000mph weapon circles in low orbit before striking anywhere on Earth from space in minutes - and would render US anti-missile defences useless -- Daily Mail  

China takes lead in hypersonic arms race as US, Russia & NK battle for 21,000mph nukes that can hit anywhere in MINUTES -- The SUN

U.S. Intelligence Stunned By China's Test In August Of A Nuclear-Capable Hypersonic Missile That Circled The Globe Before Speeding Towards Its Target

Exclusive: China tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in August that circled the globe before speeding towards its target, demonstrating an advanced space capability that caught US intelligence by surprise https://t.co/oSRa0eA1QR pic.twitter.com/Roxvf98wvM

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) October 16, 2021

Warzone/The Drive: China Tested A Fractional Orbital Bombardment System That Uses A Hypersonic Glide Vehicle: Report 

Such a capability could potentially allow China to execute a nuclear strike on any target on earth with near-impunity and very little warning. 

A report from Financial Times' Demetri Sevastopulo and Kathrin Hille states that China has tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle that goes into space and traverses the globe in an orbital-like fashion before making its run through the atmosphere toward its target. There would be huge implications if such a system were to be operationalized, and according to this story, which says it talked to five officials confirming the test, the U.S. government was caught totally off-guard by it.  

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More News On China's Test In August Of A Nuclear-Capable Hypersonic Missile That Circled The Globe 

China reportedly tested nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in August -- NYPost  

China tests space capability, launches nuclear-capable missile: Report -- AFP  

China Tested an Earth-Circling Hypersonic Missile, FT Reports -- Bloomberg  

China surprised US officials with August missiles test: Report -- Washington Examiner  

WNU Editor: The Pentagon does not even come close to having this capability. The U.S. is clearly losing this arms race.

So how did U.S. intelligence miss this? 

The events that lead to the Afghan disaster (and after) must have sucked in a lot of intel resources to the detriment of every other US intelligence operation. As a result no one was looking at what China was doing.

I also believe that during the Trump Presidency many leaders in the US intelligence community were more focused on President Trump and undermining him instead of watching America's adversaries and enemies. Need I remind everyone about this .... Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say (NYPost).

Then there is this point by BDW (see tweet below). He believes that prioritizing cultural changes in the US intel community over skills and abilities contributed to this intelligence failure.

If you’re wondering why America’s intelligence community is utterly shocked by China’s development of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, here’s your answer.pic.twitter.com/FfV3LvJKfR

— BDW (@BryanDeanWright) October 16, 2021

Russia Arrests Top Hypersonic Missile Scientist For Treason

Kuranov was one of Russia's top scientists working on its hypersonic missile programme (pictured, a test of the hypersonic Zircon missile)  

Daily Mail: Russia arrests top hypersonic missile scientist on treason charge 'for passing secrets to a NATO country' it emerges after British embassy security guard is seized in Germany for 'spying for Kremlin' 

* Alexander Kuranov has been arrested in Moscow accused of spying for the West 

* 73-year-old is a top Russian rocket scientist working on its hypersonic missiles 

* He is accused of passing information on the missiles to unnamed NATO country 

* Comes after Briton David Smith, a security guard at the country's embassy in Germany, was accused of passing information to a Kremlin agent 

Russia has detained one of its top hypersonic scientists on suspicion of high treason. 

Professor Alexander Kuranov, 73, was held by the FSB counterintelligence service which accuses him of passing secrets to an unspecified NATO country. 

He is due in Lefortovo court in Moscow today and is expected to be detained for two months pending investigations.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Russia detains head of hypersonic research facility in treason case (Moscow Times)  

Update #2: Russia detains head of hypersonic research facility in treason case (Reuters)  

WNU Editor: If these reports are true this is huge security failure for Russia.

Russia Developing New X-95 Air-Launched Long-Range Hypersonic Missile

Kh-47M2 Kinzhal Hypersonic missile. Reuters  

South Front: Russia Developing New X-95 Air-Launched Long-Range Hypersonic Missile 

Russia is working hard and developing the latest air-launched X-95 long-range hypersonic missile, Colonel-General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, head of the military academy of the General Staff, said in an article for the Military Thought magazine. 

Zarudnitsky said that he considered dominance in the aerospace sphere to be the most important condition for the successful conduct of hostilities, and it can be ensured through the effective use of strike and fighter aircraft.  

“For these purposes, for the Aerospace Forces, new and modernized models of weapons, military and special equipment are being developed and adopted, such as the Tu-160M ​​strategic missile-carrying bomber; the Kinzhal aviation hypersonic missile system; long-range high-precision airborne weapons, in particular, the X-95 hypersonic missile,” Zarudnitsky said.  

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Update #1: Russia developing new Kh-95 long-range hypersonic missile (TASS)  

Update #2: Russia Wants You To Know It's Developing a New Hypersonic Missile (National Interest)  

WNU Editor: Russia is the world leader in developing this missile .... Bad News: Russia Claims its New Weapons "Outpace" Rivals (National Interest). And here is an explanation on why hyper-sonic missiles are a game changer .... Hypersonic weapons could tilt war in favor of Russia, China (Seth Cropsey, The Hill).

Russia Warns The U.S. That Hypersonic Missiles in Europe Could Lead To ‘Inadvertent Conflict’

The Russian defense ministry said it has carried out successful test launch of its new Zircon hypersonic cruise missile. © Russia Defense Ministry  

Daily Mail: Russia warns US not to deploy hypersonic missiles in Europe saying it would 'raise likelihood of inadvertent conflict' after Kremlin touted successful test of its own high-speed weapon 

* Russia on Monday warned US not to deploy hypersonic missiles in Europe 

* Russian embassy in DC said doing so 'raises likelihood of inadvertent conflict' 

* Warning comes as Russian military touts successful test of hypersonic missile 

* Defense Ministry said Zircon missile was launched from frigate in White Sea 

* The ministry said the missile flew at a speed seven times the speed of sound 

* Zircon hit practice target more than 217 miles away on coast of Barents Sea 

Russia is warning the United States not to deploy its new hypersonic missiles in Europe just as the Kremlin is touting a successful test of its rival high-speed weapon. 

The Russian embassy in Washington, DC, posted a tweet on Monday that began with a large, red exclamation point. 

The tweet tagged Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby. 

‘We would like to remind [Kirby] that potential deployment of any [American] hypersonic [missile] in Europe would be extremely destabilizing,’ the tweet from the Russian embassy read. 

‘Their short flight time would leave Russia little to no decision time and raise likelihood of inadvertent conflict.’  

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More News On Russia Warning The U.S. That Hypersonic Missiles in Europe Could Lead To ‘Inadvertent Conflict’  

Russian Embassy in US warns Washington against deployment of hypersonic missiles in Europe -- TASS  

Russia warns US over hypersonic missiles in Europe, could lead to ‘inadvertent conflict’ -- FOX News  

Russia Warns Pentagon That Hypersonic Missiles in Europe Could Lead to Conflict -- Newsweek

U.S. Navy Stealth Zumwalt Destroyers Will Be The First U.S. Warships Armed With Hypersonic Missiles

Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) leads a formation including the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), USS Spruance (DDG-111), USS Pinckney (DDG-91) and USS Kidd (DDG-100), and the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS-4) during U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) on April 21, 2021. US Navy Photo

USNI News: CNO: Hypersonic Weapons at Sea to Premiere on Zumwalt Destroyers in 2025 

The Navy is set to debut its first at-sea hypersonic missiles aboard one of the service’s three Zumwalt-class destroyers in four years, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said on Tuesday. 

Rather than have the Navy’s first weapons capable of traveling Mach 5 of faster fire from guided-missile submarines “by 2025,” as previously planned, Gilday said that the Zumwalts would be the first platform to field hypersonics during an event at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

“Fielding hypersonics on the Zumwalt-class destroyers will be an important move forward [to] turn that into a strike platform,” he said.  

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Update: Stealth Zumwalt destroyers will be first US Navy warships armed with hypersonic missiles, top admiral says (Business Insider)  

WNU Editor: The US Navy needs to first develop and build these hypersonic missiles before deploying them .... Hypersonic gap: US spending $15bn to match rivals (Asia Times).

Australia And The US Partner To Develop Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles

A common hypersonic glide body launches from Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii on March 19, 2020, during a flight experiment. Australia and the U.S. are teaming up on hypersonic weapons development. (Courtesy of the U.S. Navy) 

CNN/Reuters: Australia partners with US to develop hypersonic missiles 

(CNN)Australia will jointly develop hypersonic cruise missiles with the United States in a bid to counter China and Russia which are developing similar weapons, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said on Tuesday. 

"We will continue to invest in advanced capabilities to give the Australian Defence Force more options to deter aggression against Australia's interests," Reynolds said in a statement. 

She did not reveal the cost of developing the missiles or when they would be operational. Australia had set aside up to 9.3 billion Australian dollars ($6.8 billion) this year for high-speed, long-range missile defense systems, including hypersonic research. 

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 More News On Australia And The US Partnering To Develop Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles

Australia Teams Up With U.S. To Get Hypersonic Missiles For Its Super Hornets In Five Years -- Warzone/The Drive 

Australia, US partner on air-launched hypersonic missile -- Defense News 

Pentagon joins with Australia to develop SCIFiRE, an air-breathing hypersonic missile -- Flight Global 

Australia and US to take on China and Russia in hypersonic missiles -- SCMP 

Air Force to Lead US, Australia Push for Hypersonic Technology -- Air Force Magazine 

Australia signs hypersonic missile development and testing deal with the US -- News.com.au 

F-18 Super Hornets To Be Equipped With Hypersonic Missiles With A Striking Range Of Whopping 1600 Km -- EurAsian Times

US Navy Will Install Hypersonic Missiles On Attack Submarines And All Of Its Destroyers

The US Navy will be equipping its attack submarines and all of its destroyers with hypersonic missiles in a bid to stave off the mounting threat of China in the Indo-Pacific region (a missile test is pictured aboard the Navy's new Zumwalt-class destroyer) 

Daily Mail: US Navy will install hypersonic missiles on attack submarines and all its destroyers in bid to counter mounting threat posed by China in the Pacific, Trump's top national security adviser reveals

* The service will first be installing the weapons on its Virginia-class attack submarines, then on its new Zumwalt-class destroyers 

 * Finally, the missiles will be mounted on all Arleigh Burke-class destroyers 

 * The move is seen as vital step the US’ challenge to keep China at arms length in the Indo-Pacific region, as tensions continue to mount over Taiwan 

 * Earlier this year, US defense sources warned that without serious reform and investment into its naval fleet, the US would lose a war with China in the region 

 * The US island territory Guam, home to three US military bases, was cited as a particularly susceptible target to attack  

* In addition to its new hypersonic missile drive, more long-range, ground-launched cruise missiles have been delivered to the Asia-Pacific region 

 * But Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said there’s still much more to be done and had pledged to increase the Navy's fleet by more than 500 ships by 2045 

The US Navy will be equipping its attack submarines and all of its destroyers with hypersonic missiles in a bid to stave off the mounting threat posed by China in the Pacific, Trump’s top national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, said Wednesday. 

The service will first be installing the weapons on its Virginia-class attack submarines, then on its new Zumwalt-class destroyers, before finally mounting the missiles on all three tiers of its Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, according to Defense News. 

Speaking at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard earlier today, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said: ‘The Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike program will provide hypersonic missile capability to hold targets at risk from longer ranges.' 

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Update #1: All US Navy destroyers will get hypersonic missiles, says Trump’s national security adviser -- Defense News 

Update #2: O'Brien announces Navy ships and subs will be outfitted with Trump's favorite missile -- Politico 

WNU Editor: In World War One it was the battleships that dominated the seas. In World War Two it was the aircraft carriers. In future conflicts, it will be the Navy that has the most missiles that are also the most accurate that will dominate the seas.

US Air Force Tests It's Latest Hypersonic Missile From A B-52 Bomber

 

EurAsian Times: Watch: US Air Force Tests One Of World’s Most Powerful Hypersonic Missile From B-52 Bombers 

A few days after Russia successfully conducted another test-firing of the hypersonic Zircon cruise missile, the US Air Force has offered a sneak peek into its first hypersonic missile. 

Lockheed Martin’s AGM-183A, Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) took a test flight in August on B-52 Stratofortress out of Edwards Air Force Base. 

“This captive carry flight was conducted with tactical hardware and fully instrumented to collect thermal, mechanical and digital data from the flight vehicle. This is the first time a tactical ARRW missile has been assembled. Additional ground and flight testing will follow over the next two years,” Lockheed Martin said in a statement. 

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WNU Editor: For more information .... Coming Soon: B-52 Stratofortress Armed with Hypersonic Missiles? (National Interest).

Lockheed Martin Posts First Image Of Its New Hypersonic Long-Range Missile System

Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corp 

Defence-Blog: Lockheed Martin releases first image of new hypersonic long-range missile system

Lockheed Martin Corp., Pentagon’s No.1 weapons supplier, posted the first public computer-generated graphics of Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW). 

 According to the presentation, the new weapon system will consist of four transporter erector launchers (TEL), each installed on a modified M870 40-ton trailer, and command posts. 

Each TEL will have two canisterized hypersonic weapons at the ready and the unit will have an unspecified number of additional missiles on hand. 

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WNU Editor: The U.S. is behind Russia in deploying these weapon systems .... Russia Conducts Successful Test Launch Of Its Hypersonic Zircon Missile (October 6, 2020).