Russia says it launched hypersonic missile from submarine for first time

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Monday announced that it has launched a hypersonic missile from the Severodvinsk submarine for the first time, The Associated Press reported.

The military said that the nuclear submarine performed two launches of the Zircon cruise missile, with its mock targets being in the Barents Sea.

Zircon’s purpose is to arm cruisers, frigates, and submarines in Russia. It is one of the few hypersonic missiles under development in the country, according to the AP.

This was Zircon’s first missile launch from a submarine as it had previously been test-fired from a navy frigate. 

Russian officials also said that tests from the cruise missile will be completed by the end of this year and it will be commissioned by the navy in 2022, the AP Reported. 

This comes as Russia’s government has made arsenals a top priority amid tension with western countries stemming from its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, according to the AP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the cruise missile could be capable of flying nine times the speed of sound and having a range of about 620 miles.