The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it is monitoring Russia’s deployment of advanced missile systems, including the Kinzhal and Zircon, but has not disclosed any formal assessment of their impact.
In a written question tabled on 29 August, Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty asked what assessment had been made of the threat posed by the two hypersonic systems.
Responding on 6 September, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said: “The Department is aware of and continues to monitor the impact of the Russian use of these and other missile types.”
No further details were provided on the ministry’s analysis or the implications for UK and NATO defences. The Kinzhal and Zircon, both touted by Moscow as cutting-edge hypersonic weapons, have been employed during the Ukraine conflict and are viewed as central to Russia’s strategic deterrent messaging.
The missiles
The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, known by NATO as the AS-24 Killjoy, is a Russian air-launched ballistic missile that entered service in 2017. It is carried by high-speed aircraft such as the MiG-31K interceptor, Tu-22M3M bomber, and reportedly the Su-34, with future plans for the Su-57. The missile is large and heavy at around 4,300 kg and over 7 metres in length. It is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor, guided by an inertial navigation system with mid-course updates, and steered by cropped delta fins. The Kinzhal is capable of carrying either a conventional high-explosive warhead or a low-yield nuclear warhead, giving it both tactical and strategic utility.
Performance figures place its range at up to 2,000 km when factoring in the launching aircraft’s reach, and its top speed is reported to be around Mach 10. Russia has promoted the Kinzhal as part of its suite of advanced strategic weapons, and it was first shown publicly in 2018 by President Vladimir Putin. Operationally, the missile has been deployed from bases in Russia’s Southern and Western Military Districts. It was used in combat during the Russian invasion of Ukraine beginning in 2022, with the first successful interception occurring in May 2023 after the arrival of U.S. Patriot air defence batteries.
Despite Russian claims of revolutionary capability, outside assessments are more sceptical. Chinese analysts, reviewing the missile’s performance in Ukraine, argued that the Kinzhal does not qualify as a true hypersonic weapon because it follows a predictable ballistic trajectory and cannot manoeuvre at hypersonic speeds. This, they suggest, makes it more vulnerable to interception than advertised. Questions have also been raised about its accuracy in operational use, tempering the initial impression that it represented a decisive advance in Russian missile technology.
Now, the 3M22 Zircon, also known as Tsirkon and designated by NATO as SS-N-33, is a Russian hypersonic cruise missile developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya. It is designed to strike both naval and land targets and can be launched from submarines, surface ships, and in the future, land-based platforms. The missile is scramjet-powered, fuelled by Detsilin-M, and has a length of about 9 metres with a diameter of 60 cm. Entering service with the Russian Navy in January 2023, Zircon is part of Russia’s modernisation of long-range precision strike systems.
Performance figures place the Zircon at speeds of up to Mach 9 and altitudes around 28 km, giving it significant reach and survivability against conventional air defences. Russian sources claim an effective operational range exceeding 1,000 km, with shorter ranges reported for low-level flight profiles and longer ones for semi-ballistic trajectories. These figures remain debated, with most reliable estimates placing its range between 400 and 1,000 km. The missile is launched from the standardised 3S-14 vertical launch system, already fitted to modern Russian frigates and submarines, making it adaptable across multiple naval platforms.
Operationally, Zircon has been promoted as a carrier-killer due to its speed, manoeuvrability, and precision. Russian media argue that its ability to strike large naval assets like aircraft carriers could shift the balance at sea by overwhelming defences. However, independent analysts caution that claims of maximum range and accuracy are difficult to verify, and much of the available information comes from Russian sources.
