On November 29, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it test fired a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile. Russia’s Admiral Gorshkov frigate launched the Zircon while in the White Sea, successfully striking a target 400 km away. The Zircon has a claimed range of 1,000 km and is planned to equip Russian cruisers, frigates, and submarines.
On November 15, Russia conducted an antisatellite missile test, reportedly using an S-500 Prometey interceptor to intercept a long-defunct Soviet signals intelligence satellite. The intercept created over 1,500 pieces of trackable debris. Russia last tested an antisatellite missile in December 2020, although that test did not involve a kinetic intercept.
On November 1, Russia concluded a large-scale air and missile defense exercise at a range in the country’s Astrakhan region. In a release, Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated the drills involved over 1,000 servicemembers and over 300 pieces of military hardware, including the S-400V4, Buk-M3, and Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile systems. During the drills, air defense...
On October 3 and 4, Russia’s defense ministry announced its first and second flight tests of a Zircon hypersonic missile from attack submarine Severodvinsk (K-560). In the first test, Russia’s navy fired the missile from the surfaced submarine in the Barents Sea, striking a “hypothetical sea target.” In a second test, announced October 4, Severodvinsk...
On July 7, Russia flight tested its S-500 missile defense system against a “high-speed ballistic target.” According to Russia’s defense ministry, the successful test “confirmed the specified tactical and technical characteristics” of the system, which will succeed the S-400 system for long-range missile defense. The event marks the first public display of the S-500, which...
In mid-June, Russia test fired a Kedr intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk spaceport in the country’s northwest. The Kedr is planned to replace the RS-24 Yars ICBM around 2030. The Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT) currently oversees its design and development. Related Links: Russia successfully test-launches latest ICBM — source, TASS
What will it take for Russia and the United States to make progress on arms control? In announcing the Biden administration’s intent to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) for another five years, Secretary of State Anthony Blinkin offered a hint. He noted that the next negotiation must include all of Russian and American nuclear...
On April 26, Russia announced it had successfully test fired an anti-ballistic missile interceptor. The test took place at the Sary-Shagan test site in Kazakhstan. While Russia’s Ministry of Defense declined to name the missile, the weapon appeared to be a 53T6M, a replacement for the 53T6 “Gazelle” interceptors used in Moscow’s A-135 missile defense...
On December 15, Russia tested an anti-satellite missile, according to a statement by the U.S. Space Command. According to the release, the weapon tested was a direct-ascent anti-satellite missile capable of destroying satellites in low Earth orbit. The statement separately announced that Russia had continued to develop a co-orbital anti-satellite weapon, which was tested in...
On December 11-12, Russia test fired a Tsirkon hypersonic missile and four Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) in a series of naval launches. On December 11, Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov (417) fired a Tsirkon hypersonic missile from the White Sea, striking a coastal target over 350 km away in Northern Russia’s Arkhangelsk region. On December...
