Latest! The Russian frigate sailed into the Atlantic Ocean via Gibraltar
According to a report by Russia's LiantaNet on September 5th, the Russian Northern Fleet announced that the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" equipped with "Zircon" hypersonic missiles had sailed into the Atlantic Ocean after completing its mission in the Mediterranean.
According to the report, it was reported that "today, the frigate" Admiral Gorshkov "of the Northern Fleet, which has been operating in the Mediterranean since April, sailed into the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar under the escort of the medium-sized oil tanker" Viazima "."
Admiral Gorshkov will conduct a series of exercises in the Atlantic Ocean. This 22350 type frigate began service in 2018 and is equipped with the 3S14 universal shipborne launch system, which can launch the "Onyx" supersonic cruise missile, "Caliber NK" cruise missile, or "Zircon" hypersonic missile.
On May 28, 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defense News Office released a video showing that the Russian Navy's "Admiral Gorshkov" frigate launched a "Zircon" hypersonic missile in the Barents Sea.
According to reports, the Admiral Gorshkov conducted air defense training during a long-range cruise in the Mediterranean in July.
In June of this year, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy, stated that all newly built and under construction frigates and light frigates of the Russian military would be equipped with "Zircon" hypersonic missiles.
According to today's Russian television website, the flight speed of the "Zircon" missile far exceeds any anti-ship missile previously developed by Russia and anti-ship missiles used by NATO countries.
It is reported that the shipborne air defense systems of Western countries are designed to intercept subsonic and supersonic missiles, and are absolutely powerless against hypersonic missiles. The long range of zircon allows the Russian fleet to destroy enemy surface and ground targets without entering enemy kill zones.