Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov armed with hypersonic missiles to conduct training in Atlantic Ocean.

According to information published by Izvestia on September 5, 2023, the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov, equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles, has left the Russian Navy's standing group in the Mediterranean Sea to enter the Atlantic Ocean for military drills
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Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov. (Picture source: Tass)

It was further mentioned that the ship's crew had successfully completed all tasks in the Mediterranean and will continue to refine their naval training in the Atlantic, conducting a series of ship exercises.

Upon completion of all assigned tasks, the ship will return to Severomorsk, the main base of the Northern Fleet. Earlier, on February 10th, the frigate "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" had conducted artillery fire at a sea target in the Atlantic Ocean.

Prior to that, on January 25th, in line with the training scenario, the frigate "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" practiced organizing a missile strike with the Zircon hypersonic missile at a sea target in the western part of the Atlantic, simulating a distant ship of a hypothetical adversary.

About the missile

The "Zircon" stands as Russia's premier ship-based hypersonic missile, originally designed for naval carriers. Its development traces back to the early 2000s, as part of a program to rearm ships and multi-purpose submarines previously equipped with P-700 "Granit" and P-800 "Onyx" cruise missiles.

Military experts note that the Zircon inherited a distinctive attack strategy from its predecessors, which was substantially enhanced. Notably, the Zircon maintains an altitude of 30–40 km during its cruise phase, where air resistance is minimal. This cruising altitude substantially amplifies the missile's range and speed, while also facilitating counter-missile maneuvers.

The initial tests of the hypersonic "Zircons" were conducted in 2016. A significant milestone was on October 4, 2021, when a Zircon was launched from the "Severodvinsk" submarine.

The warhead of the Zircon is both explosive and penetrative, weighing 400 kg. Similarly to supersonic missiles, it can be equipped with a nuclear warhead if required. The missile boasts a flight speed of 8 Mach (approximately 10,000 km/h), with a launch range reaching around 1,000 km.