Russia deploying hypersonic missiles on new nuclear submarines

Russia is deploying hypersonic missiles on a new class of nuclear-powered submarines, according to a Russian businessman.

Alexei Rakhmanov, the CEO of the Russian-government-owned company United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), told state-run media outlet RIA Novosty that Yasen class nuclear submarines will be outfitted with Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles.

“Work in this direction is already underway,” Rakhmanov said in the interview published Monday.

Yasen-class submarines are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines. The attack subs are stealthy and have long-range strike capabilities with conventional cruise missiles.

The addition of true hypersonic missiles — which travel at five times the speed of sound or faster and are maneuverable in mid-air — poses a greater threat to Western allies in the maritime domain.

The Zircon hypersonic missile is a type of cruise missile that is fired by a rocket booster or supersonic jet before a scramjet engine takes over, propelling it forward with the flow of air at supersonic speeds.

Russia has used hypersonic missiles such as the Kinzhal to devastating effect during the war in Ukraine but there has not been a reported use of the Zircon.

The U.S. is in a race to catch up with Russia and China in the hypersonic missile field, where Moscow and Beijing are much further ahead in the deployment of the weapons.

Washington has yet to field a true hypersonic missile, but it has been quickening its pace of development with more funding in the past few years.

The deployment of nuclear-powered submarines has also been an intense focus for both Russia and the U.S. Earlier this year, President Biden announced a major deal known as AUKUS with Australia and the U.K. to boost nuclear-powered submarines for Canberra.

Russia has modernized its fleet of submarines in recent years and now boasts 11 nuclear-powered submarines, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

American nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed subs travel to ports across the world, including two this year in South Korea amid rising nuclear tensions with North Korea.