Ukraine can shoot down Russia's Zircon missile, but there's catch
Ukraine's Air Force says the Zircon missile does not qualify as hypersonic (photo: wikipedia.org)
Russian Zircon missiles flying on a ballistic trajectory can be destroyed. However, Ukraine's air defense often lacks the necessary means to do so, according to Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force.
As Ihnat noted, Russia designed the Zircon as an anti-ship missile. Despite this, it is multifunctional and can also strike ground targets.
Incidentally, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the missile was hypersonic, but that is not the case. Although its speed is indeed considerable — up to Mach 10.
"Climbing to an altitude of more than 40 kilometers, the missile travels toward its target at high speed because the air is thinner there, and then attacks like a ballistic missile," the Ukrainian Air Force representative explained.
Patriot is capable of destroying this type of ballistic missile. However, the problem is that there is a constant shortage of missiles for the system.
"The statistics speak for themselves — if there are missiles for Patriot, then the missiles can be intercepted in one region or another," Ihnat added.
Knowing about Ukraine's shortages, the enemy is deliberately using more Zircon missiles.
While these missiles were previously launched from Crimea, they are now being launched from the north. The reason is that the Bastion coastal missile system is mobile and can be deployed in different regions.
Earlier, it was reported on whether Ukraine is capable of creating its own missile "sword" and on whose experience it should rely.
It also became known that Ukraine's air defense successfully repelled a Russian attack involving Zircon missiles.
The ISW also explained why Putin actually decided to strike the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
