Russia will increase the number of warships armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has announced on December 9.
“In the Navy, it is necessary to increase the number of open ocean warships, including those carrying Kalibr cruise missiles and Zircon hypersonic missiles,” Shoigu said at during conference call.
Shoigu added that “it is needed to expand the nomenclature of unmanned aerial vehicles, robotic systems and weapons based on new physical principles.”
Zircon hypersonic missiles are reportedly can be used laucnhed from the 3S-14 vertical launchers already used in warships armed with Kalibr cruise missiles. This means that Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates,
Gepard-class frigates, Steregushchy-class corvettes, Gremyashchy-class corvettes, Buyan-M-class corvettes of the Russian Navy are theoretically capable of launching Zircon missiles.
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they should all be equipped with hypersonics and lasers
Steregushchy-class corvettes are not equipped with 3C-14 VLS.
Smaller ships with much bigger “teeth” is economic and tactically sound and effective solution. Russia comes out with the cheapest and most effective solution, opposed to US who does often opposite in their acquisitions. They spend insane amount of money for weapons that often does not work as promised or even not work at all.
Good, that’s the right step Mr. Shoigu. With hypersonic missiles, these warships will have more power than ever before. With this hypersonic missile it will automatically turn a corvette into a destroyer. Very effective!