Russia is in the process of equipping new nuclear submarines with Zircon hypersonic missiles, Alexei Rakhmanov, head of Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), told Ria Novosti news agency.
"The multipurpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project will be equipped with the Zircon missile system. Work in this direction is already underway," Rakhmanov said.
The Yasen-class submarines, also known as Project 885M, are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines. They were built to replace the Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines as part of the modernization of the army and fleet. Currently, the Yasen-class submarines are armed with Kalibr cruise missiles and Physicist-class torpedoes.
The sea-launched Zircon hypersonic missile can fly 900km and travel several times the speed of sound, making it difficult for defense systems to intercept. Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would begin mass deliveries of the Zircon missile as part of a push to bolster its nuclear forces.
The Admiral Gorshkov multipurpose frigate is the first Russian ship to be equipped with Zircon missiles. "The armament of the frigates will be carried out according to the plans of the Russian Defense Ministry," the head of the USC said.
According to Vietnamnet