Top 5 things you need to know about Russia’s new hypersonic missile being tested in the Black Sea
- The missile, dubbed the ‘Zircon’ by Western analysts, is designed to travel at Mach 9, making it nearly impossible for current air defense systems to track or intercept.
- This test reportedly took place from a submerged submarine, marking Russia’s first underwater launch of a hypersonic weapon and signaling a new sea-based threat.
- The missile’s range is estimated at 1,000 kilometers, putting key NATO bases and naval assets across Eastern Europe within striking distance.
- Analysts warn that the weapon’s erratic flight path and plasma cloud upon re-entry render it undetectable by radar, raising fears of a new arms race in defense technology.
- This test follows a recent U.S. announcement of its own hypersonic prototype, escalating a global competition that could redefine future naval warfare.