New Delhi: Russia once again made the world realize its military power. During the military exercise Zapad-2025, Russia tested one of its deadliest weapons, the hypersonic Zircon missile. The speed of this missile is 9 times more than the speed of sound (11113.2 kmph), which is considered almost impossible to stop. Russia said on Sunday, 14 September 2025, that it fired a Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise missile at a target in the Barents Sea, and Sukhoi Su-34 supersonic fighter-bombers carried out attacks as part of joint military exercises with Belarus.
The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of the Zircon hypersonic missile being fired by the Northern Fleet's Admiral Golovko frigate at a target in the Barents Sea. The footage showed that the missile was launched vertically from the frigate and then it moved towards the horizon at an angle. The ministry said that according to surveillance data received in real time, the target was destroyed by a direct hit. The ministry also reported that long-range anti-submarine aircraft of the mixed aviation corps of the Northern Fleet were involved in the exercise. Also, the crews of the Su-34 practiced bombing of ground targets.
According to the Defense Ministry, the 'Zapad-2025' exercise between Russia and Belarus began on September 12, aimed at improving military command and coordination in the event of an attack on Russia or Belarus. Moscow and Minsk clarified that these exercises are purely defensive and there is no intention to attack any NATO member. However, the US-led military alliance announced the 'Eastern Sentry' operation after the intrusion of Russian drones in Poland on September 9-10.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in 2019, said that the Zircon missile can fly 9 times faster than the speed of sound and can hit targets at sea and land at a distance of more than 600 miles.
The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of the Zircon hypersonic missile being fired by the Northern Fleet's Admiral Golovko frigate at a target in the Barents Sea. The footage showed that the missile was launched vertically from the frigate and then it moved towards the horizon at an angle. The ministry said that the target was destroyed by a direct hit.