Zirkon - The Hypersonic Cruise Missile is coming - 3M22

The 3M22 Zirkon is, probably, the first Hypersonic Cruise Missile to become operative in the world. We know a lot about it but we don't have a picture. It is going to be in the spotlight in the coming years but we still don't have a real datasheet.
The only thing certain is: that hypersonic weapons are coming and it is going to be huge.

Enjoy.
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[mikespike]

Great video as always. Thank you. Off topic, but could you make a video on why flying wing aircraft designs aren't used in military planes, aside from just the US B2. It seems like it should be the best design for heavy cargo or high volume personnel capacity lift. Have a good day.

[bharatsharma]

Very informative, thank you. As I started watching the video, I was wondering how the plasma would affect the missile, which you later discussed as part of the video anyway. This is what I, and I guess many others will agree, appreciate about your videos. Proper research and a well thought out approach so that we get a single video covering most of the questions we could later come up with.


I feel that both the Zircon and the Burevestnik (not sure if it's for fixed targets, or for ships as well) could be potent weapons against their intended targets and could perhaps be used together as well, allowing for simultaneous attacks from multiple directions. Going by what the US claimed about AGM-158C LRASM (much more advanced), and what the Russian Kh-22 is known for (missiles flying at different altitudes and sharing target data), it could be reasoned that a similar approach could be followed here.
I am interested in understanding counter measures deployed by ships. The ships would likely "jam" GPS and radar, and will also deploy IR / optical countermeasures (smoke). How effective will INS be, if the missile needs to conduct heavy manoeuvring at high speeds? CIWS, even if it hit the missile, would still see hypersonic fragments, and as you discussed in a previous video, AEGIS or systems which protect nearby assets would be stuck playing catch-up to a target which is moving faster than the missiles. And knowing the Russians, these hypersonic gliders and missiles would still retain some manoeuvrability. Also knowing the Russians, their next batch of SAMs would likely be aimed at stopping similar hypersonic weapons.
Considering the massive range on modern missiles, perhaps it really is time when long-range fleet defender aircraft such as the F-14 (more likely their upgrades) made a come-back. The best defense may be to deny a launch altogether.


BrahMos, as you probably already knew, is made up of the names of 2 major rivers; Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia). ;)

[berkut]

You make very interesting videos! keep up the good work. Do you have a telegram channel by any chance or you just make videos?

[TheGrindcorps]

Will be interesting to see if a potential Mig-41 would be able to launch this without a booster rocket. Currently Russia is hoping to begin tests in 2025 and begin fielding it at end of decade and beginning of next. Supposedly it will be able to reach at least Mach 4. The Khinzal mig-31 launches only a modified Iskandar.

[smurug]

Please can you make an analysis on Indo-Russian Brahmos supersonic cruise missile.

[philoso]

There are more advocates than double advocates when it comes to hypersonic war heads.

The leading limitations in that are
terminal velocity and
the associate signature.

At reentry altitudes from 84-72 meter and terminal velocity of 90m/s the vertical flight time is 15min, increasing to 22min 45-degrees.

On the other hand if it burn fuel after reentry Mach 2 should half the 22min down to 11min, while Mach 4 should reduce it to 5.5min.

How many reliable defense system within reentry envelop takes longer than 5.5min?

Hypersonic war head must be intercepted in front but from behind.

[sergarlantyrell]

Is it even possible to fly hypersonic at low altitudes?
I always assumed such missiles would have very high flight paths before diving down on the target (and still scrubbing off speed) during the terminal phase.

[YakhontProductions]

Will you be covering any math like salvo equations?

[vladimirpesut]

Zircon ( not Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise misille targeting Pentagon from 1000km distance at middle of North Atlantic. This is first mission. Becouse it strike Pentagon for 4, 5 minutes after launching. Second mission is London, and thirth is aircraft cerryer itself.
Do you satisfyed ?

[patriklind]

Thank you for a great video. I was wondering if such a hyper velocity missile would be effective as a Anti radiation missile. It would be very bad if Tsirkon could shoot down AEWACs planes. This would disrupt much of NATOs tactics would it not?

[prokremelskidezolati]

It is not "tsirkon", but "zirkon" - XYZ

[mr.stratholm]

You do make a lot of good points for this technology but it is already obsolete. This kind of missile would not have a chance against a weak AI firing a high energy laser at it and all aimed through a gigapixel camera. A weak AI's reaction time is much faster than this short range projectile can travel and it can never approach the speed of photons that aren't even affected by gravity. If I'm making this point on YouTube comments then DARPA has already thought of this. Over all, nice video on technology that is obsolete before it get's implemented.