In recent years, the United States has been intensively developing its national missile defense system. The desire of the US government to locate some elements of its missile defense system in Eastern Europe caused the start of a nuclear missile arms race between America and Russia.
The relevance of creating new supersonic weapons
In view of the intensive strengthening of American missile defense systems near the borders of Russia, the country's Ministry of Defense made a strategic decision to actively counter this by creating new hypersonic missiles. One of them is the ZK-22, the Zircon hypersonic missile. Russia, according to its military experts, will be able to effectively resist any potential aggressor only if it urgently modernizes its army and navy.
The essence of Russian Navy modernization
Since 2011, according to the plan of the Russian Ministry of Defense, work has been carried out to create such a unique weapon as the Zircon missile. Characteristics of supersonic missilesis distinguished by one common quality - the highest speed. They have such a speed that the enemy may have difficulty not only in terms of intercepting them, but when trying to detect them. According to military experts, the Tsirkon cruise missile is a very effective means of deterring any aggression today. The characteristics of the product allow us to consider this weapon as a modern hypersonic sword of the Russian air fleet.
Media statements
For the first time, statements about the start of development of a complex with a sea-based hypersonic cruise missile "Zircon" appeared in the media in February 2011. The weapon has become the latest comprehensive development of Russian designers.
The abbreviation 3K-22 has become the proposed designation of the Zircon missile system.
In August 2011, Boris Obnosov, CEO of the Tactical Missiles Concern, announced that the corporation had begun developing a rocket that would reach speeds of up to Mach 13, exceeding the speed of sound by 12-13 times. (For comparison: today the speed of attack missiles of the Russian Navy is up to Mach 2.5).
In 2012, the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation announced that the first test of the created hypersonic missile was expected in the near future.
Open sources reported that the development of a ship complex with a hypersonic missile "Zircon" was entrusted to NPO Mashinostroeniya. It is known that information about the technical characteristics of the installation is classified, it was reportedestimated data: range - 300-400 km, speed - Mach 5-6.
There are unconfirmed reports that the missile is a hypersonic variant of BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile that was developed by Russian designers together with Indian specialists based on the Onyx P-800 missile. In 2016 (February), BrahMos Aerospace announced that a hypersonic engine for its brainchild could be developed within 3-4 years.
In March 2016, the media announced the start of tests of the Zircon hypersonic missile, which were carried out from the ground launch complex.
In the future, it was planned to install "Zircon" on the latest Russian submarines "Husky". At present, these multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the 5th generation are being developed by the Malachite design bureau.
At the same time, information was published in the media that the state flight-design tests of the rocket were in full swing. Upon their completion, a decision is expected to be made on the acceptance of the Zircon into service with the Russian Navy. In April 2016, information was published that tests of the Zircon missile would be completed by 2017, and in 2018 it is expected to launch the installation into mass production.
Development and testing
In 2011, the Tactical Missiles concern began designing Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missiles. Characteristics of the new weapons, according toexperts, have much in common with the already existing Bolid complex.
In 2012 and 2013, a new missile was tested at the Akhtubinsk test site. The plane "TU-22M3" was used as a carrier. The results of the tests were conclusions about the cause of the unsuccessful launch and short-term flight of the warhead. Subsequent testing was carried out in 2015 using the ground launch complex as a carrier. Now the Zircon rocket was launched from an emergency launch. The characteristics of 2016 during testing gave a positive result, which prompted the developers to announce in the media the creation of a new hypersonic missile weapon.
Where are the new missiles planned to be used?
After the completion of further planned state tests, hypersonic missiles will be equipped with the Husky (multi-purpose nuclear submarines), the Leader cruisers and the upgraded nuclear cruisers Orlan and Peter the Great. The heavy nuclear cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will also be equipped with the Zirkon anti-ship missile. The characteristics of the new ultra-high-speed weapons are much superior to similar models - for example, such as the "Granit" complex. Over time, it will be replaced by the ZK-22. Exceptionally advanced and modernized submarines and surface vessels will use the Zirkon missile.
Specifications
- Rangemissile flight is 1500 km.
- Installation has a speed of about 6 Mach. (Mach 1 equals 331 meters per second).
- The ZK-22 warhead weighs at least 200 kg.
- 500 km - the radius of destruction, which has a hypersonic missile "Zircon".
The characteristics of the weapon give grounds to judge the superiority of the army owning it over the enemy who does not possess such weapons.
Engine and fuel
A hypersonic or ultra-high-speed object is considered to be an object whose speed is at least 4500 km/h. When creating such weapons, developers face many scientific and technical problems. Among them, the most relevant questions are how to accelerate a rocket using a traditional jet engine and what kind of fuel to use? Russian scientists and developers decided to use a special rocket-ramjet engine, which is characterized by supersonic combustion, to accelerate the ZK-22. These engines operate on the new fuel "Decilin - M", which is characterized by increased energy consumption (20%).
Fields of science involved in the development
High temperature is a common medium in which the Zircon rocket performs its maneuvering flight after acceleration. The characteristics of the homing system at supersonic speed during the flight can be significantly distorted. The reason for this is the appearance of a plasma cloud, which can close the target from the system and damage the sensor, antenna and meanscontrol. To fly at hypersonic speeds, missiles must be equipped with more advanced avionics. Serial production of the ZK-22 involves such sciences as materials science, engine building, electronics, aerodynamics and others.
For what purpose was the Zircon rocket (Russia) created?
The characteristics obtained after state tests give reason to believe that these supersonic objects can easily overcome enemy anti-tank defenses. This became possible due to two features inherent in the ZK-22:
- Warhead speed at 100 km is Mach 15, i.e. 7 km/sec.
- Being in a dense atmospheric layer, just before approaching its target, the warhead performs complex maneuvers, which makes it difficult for the enemy's missile defense system.
Many military experts, both Russian and foreign, believe that the achievement of military-strategic parity directly depends on the availability of hypersonic missiles.
About prospects
The media is actively circulating information about the United States lagging behind Russia in terms of the development of hypersonic missiles. In their statements, journalists refer to data from American military research. The appearance in the arsenal of the Russian army is even more modern than the Zircon missile, hypersonic weapons are expected by 2020. For the US missile defense system, which is considered one of the most advanced systems in the world, the emergence of extreme high-speed nuclear weapons in the Russian Air Force will be, according to journalists, a real challenge.
The world's unannouncedhigh-tech arms race. Hypersonic weapons are among the latest technologies that in the 21st century will play a decisive role in the outcome of the war. It is no coincidence that in 2000, US President George W. Bush signed a directive making it possible to deliver a rapid global strike using hypersonic high-precision cruise missiles.
It's easy to guess who it was intended for. This is probably why, in October 2016, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the use of X-101 in the war in Syria - the latest cruise missiles with a range of about 4500 km.
The Zircon hypersonic missile, whose characteristics guarantee a colossal advantage in the armament of the army possessing it, is the "golden dream" of any general, minister and president. The presence of such weapons can be a significant deterrent in any military conflict.
