China and Ukraine have pushed Russia's "Zircon" missile out of the hypersonic weapons category!
Does Russia's "Zircon" hypersonic missile even have a scramjet engine?
According to a report released by Ukrainian forces, analysis of extensive missile debris from the battlefield indicates that Russia's 3M22 "Zircon" missile is not the hypersonic cruise missile previously believed to be powered by a scramjet engine. In fact, this missile lacks any intake ducts whatsoever—it is simply a conventional solid-fuel rocket-powered ballistic missile that flies entirely within the atmosphere using aerodynamic lift from its wings and body, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 9 and a terminal speed of Mach 3.
The Ukrainian report suggests that the "Zircon" missile resembles an Iskander-M missile with an additional rocket stage, but with a significantly reduced warhead weight of only 120 kg and an extended range of 1,000 km. Its capability to destroy hardened targets is therefore not particularly strong.
If this report is accurate, then China would be the only country on Earth possessing a diverse hypersonic missile system incorporating multiple propulsion types and penetration methods (with more than eight operational models already in service). Even the United States can only be considered at an embryonic stage in development.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875130367847424/
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