RUSSIA: the universal hypersonic cruise missile ZIRCON designed to destroy sea and ground targets, will be offered to the Russian Armed Forces in the coming months, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced.

Putin had vowed that Zircon, is capable of achieving speeds of about  Mach 9 and hitting targets at a distance of more than 1,000 km, would be put on military service shortly after it underwent many testing in the Barents Sea over the previous year.

On the occasion of Russia's Navy Day, Putin spoke at the Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg and said that Admiral Gorshkov, one of the Northern Fleet's most advanced ships, will be the first to be outfitted with the "unmatched" missiles that "have no hurdles." "The frigate of Admiral Gorshkov will be the first to use this powerful armament while engaged in combat. Based on Russia's security interests, the ship carrying Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles will choose the region where it would do its mission "Putin said.

On February 20, 2019, the Russian President made official mention of Zircon, the "promising innovation" also written as 3M22 Tsirkon, during his yearly Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.

It may be launched from submarines, surface ships, and water, including those that were designed and constructed to handle Kalibr high-precision missiles, therefore it is free to us, he had declared at the time.

Even during Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine, the Zircon complex flight testing for the hypersonic cruise missile proceeded as the country pressed forward with its plan to outfit submarines and surface ships with it. On May 28, the Russian Defense Ministry made a video showing the firing of Zircon from Gorshkov in the Barents Sea and its impact on a target in the White Sea after travelling a distance of 1,000 km available (625 miles).

Grain export deal: Guterres welcomes 1st sailing of vessel from Odesa

Blinken accuses Russia of nuclear 'sabre rattling'

Armed forces of Ukraine again fired HIMARS on Kherson Bridge