JUST IN: Vladimir #Putin Orders New Batch Of Hypersonic 6670mph Nuclear Missiles – #UkraineRussiaWar

JUST IN: Vladimir #Putin Orders New Batch Of Hypersonic 6670mph Nuclear Missiles – #UkraineRussiaWar—Vladimir Putin has put in a new order for dozens of cutting-edge hypersonic Zircon nuclear-capable missiles, which travel at speeds of nearly 7,000mph, it was revealed today.

The Mach 9 weapon – known in Russia as ‘Tsirkon’ – is due to be ‘in service’ this year.

The Russian president has poured money into developing new nuclear-capable missiles which – he claims – are ‘unstoppable’ by Western air defences.

‘The first contract for the production of a batch of Tsirkons was signed in the summer of 2021,’ a source close to the Russian defence ministry said.

‘An additional contract – [was signed] this autumn.’

The new order has not been officially announced, but reports of it were carried by state news agency TASS.

The latest contract will see the delivery of ‘several dozen’ Zircon 6,670 mph missiles in 2023, the source added.

A series of tests have been conducted on the missile, which has been seen fired from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate.

On May 28 a missile fired from the warship in the Barents Sea hit a target some 625 miles away in the White Sea.

Today’s announcement comes amid doubts over whether Putin’s new big beast Satan-2 – or Sarmat – will be deployed in the timescale the Russian government had boasted.

A second test of the 15,880mph Satan-2 hypersonic missile ‘may’ come before the end of the year, Russia announced this week.

Yet, earlier, it had been the Kremlin’s intention that the huge new missile would be fully deployed with its forces before the start of 2023.

Putin is seen as short of multiple missile types for his war with Ukraine.

Despite this, along with his officials and state media, he has threatened to use nuclear weapons.

The Zircon is seen as much closer to deployment.

Eleven months ago, Putin announced a ‘flawless’ salvo launch involving the Zircon.

In January, deputy defence minister Alexey Kryvoruchko said: ‘The state tests of the Zircon sea-based hypersonic cruise missile are nearing completion.

‘From 2022, serial deliveries will begin.’

The Zircon will be deployed on Russian frigates and, later, on submarines.

Earlier it was identified by Moscow’s state-controlled TV as Putin’s weapon of choice to wipe out American cities in the event of an atomic conflict.

Putin has hailed ‘our newest [Zircon] missiles fired from the sea at sea targets, and land targets’.

‘The tests were carried out successfully, flawlessly,’ he added.

‘This is a big event for our country, a significant step in improving Russia’s security, in increasing (our) defence capability.’

He said it was in ‘serial production’, calling the weapon ‘truly unparalleled … in the world’.

TV Zvezda – a channel owned by the Russian defence ministry – said: ‘The speed of the Zircon hypersonic missile is so high that it prevents the opponent’s air defence system from detecting its impact in time.

‘In fact, its launch will be known only after the target has been hit.’

The missile has a ‘variable trajectory’ to avoid detection, viewers were told.

The captain of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate Igor Krokhmal said previously: ‘No one will see the missile launch or its flight.

‘They will only see when the missile hits the target.

‘A surface target, a coastal target. I don’t think there will be anything to counter this in the next few years.’