Putin test-fires hypersonic missiles in fresh threat to the West

Putin has test-fired hypersonic missiles in the eastern Mediterranean as part of drills by the Russian Navy in a fresh threat to the West. The crews of the frigates fired Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic anti-ship missiles, while a Russian submarine launched a Kalibr cruise missile, another weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, the Russian Defense ministry said.

The nuclear-capable cutting-edge Zircon missiles can travel at speeds of nearly 7,000mph. Putin as previously claimed the missiles have ‘no equivalent in the world’. A missile system at the coast nearby also carried out a live launch of an Onyx anti-ship missile, the ministry added.

The military, which did not state where the drills took place, said the number of Russian troops stationed in the eastern Mediterranean had been ‘increased’ to take part in the exercises. On December 3, during an exercise to test the combined activities of Russian Navy and Air Force troop groups, precision sea-based missiles were launched in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea,’ Russia’s defense ministry said in a post on Telegram. Russian vessels test fired hypersonic Zirkon missiles and a Kalibr cruise missile, the ministry added.

An Onyx cruise missile was also launched ‘from a designated area on the Mediterranean coast’. Russia has a naval base in Syria at Tartus but the statement did not say where the drills were carried out. ‘In the course of preparing for the exercise, the Russian armed forces’ troops grouping in the eastern Mediterranean was increased,’ the ministry added. Footage shows his major warning to the West by firing Tsirkon [Zircon] 6,900 mph hypersonic missiles in the Mediterranean. They were blasted by modern frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko.

The ministry published images showing the launch of several missiles from ships and land and images of a target in open water being hit and exploding. The missile test coincides with deep tension in Ukraine, and was aimed to show he has a global reach beyond Russia’s backyard. It was a show of Russian strength to the West, which comes as Russia’s ally Syria lost ground to Islamist rebels.

Russia has been a key ally of Syria ‘s President Bashar al-Assad since the Syrian civil war started in 2011 and al-Assad is said to be currently staying in Moscow with his family. The drills were carried out under the supervision of Russian naval commander in chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, who several days ago was despatched to Syria.

A key message of today’s war games may be to warn that Russia’s naval port in Syria – Tartus – will be vigorously defended. A key reason for the rebel advance was that Putin had moved forces from Syria to fight in the Ukraine war. Today the Russians said that its military strength ahead of the war games in the eastern Mediterranean Sea had been increased.

Its forces conducted ‘missile, artillery and torpedo firing, as well as bombing.’ They did not show or report launches of the 9.200mph Dagger ballistic missiles. ‘The exercise involves over 1,000 servicemen, ten ships and support vessels, 24 aircraft, including MiG-31I fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces with Kinzhal [Dagger] hypersonic missiles and the Bastion coastal missile system,’ said the Russian Defense Ministry.

‘The exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean is being conducted in compliance with current international law, as well as agreements between the Russian Federation and foreign states on the prevention of incidents at sea outside territorial waters, as well as in the airspace above them.’

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