Russia Almaz-Antey
3M22 Zircon
A Russian scramjet-powered hypersonic anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile launched from the same universal vertical launch cells as Kalibr and Oniks, fielded on Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates and Yasen-class submarines. Russia has publicly claimed operational combat use against Ukraine, though independent verification of its hypersonic performance in service remains limited.
In service since 2022
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,000
km range
9
Mach
300
kg warhead
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2022. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 9 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 1,000 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 300 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | High-explosive semi-armor-piercing |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Inertial navigation, GLONASS, Active radar terminal homing |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 8 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 4,000 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Scramjet with solid rocket booster |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Almaz-Antey and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Boeing AGM-86 ALCM Head-to-head comparisons
3M22 Zircon vs
DF-17 Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Almaz-Antey 3M22 Zircon? +
The Almaz-Antey 3M22 Zircon has a maximum range of 1,000 km.
How much does the Almaz-Antey 3M22 Zircon weigh? +
The Almaz-Antey 3M22 Zircon has a combat weight of 4,000 kg.
What is the Almaz-Antey 3M22 Zircon used for? +
The Almaz-Antey 3M22 Zircon is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How much does the Almaz-Antey 3M22 Zircon cost? +
Almaz-Antey 3M22 Zircon: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
Similar systems
Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)
Kh-32
Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)
Kh-101
KBM (Kolomna Machine-Building Design Bureau)
9K720 Iskander-M
Related coverage
3M22 Zircon in the news
News technology · Aug 16, 2026
DARPA Wants a Cheaper, Faster Hypersonic Cruise Missile
DARPA's new RFI seeks a scramjet cruise missile sustaining Mach 5-plus across 250 to 2,000 nautical miles, affordable enough to mass-produce for a peer fight.
News digest · Aug 15, 2026
The Interceptor Math Breaks: Inside a Week of Defense Shortfalls
Zelensky says Ukraine receives 1% of the Patriot interceptors it needs, and every fix on the table this week, from lasers to new motors, is years away.
News conflict · Aug 11, 2026
Russia Fires Zircon, Iskander, N. Korean Missiles at Zaporizhzhia
A combined overnight strike used three distinct ballistic and hypersonic systems, one supplied by North Korea, killing civilians and steelworkers in Zaporizhzhia.
Article guide · Jul 28, 2026
What Warhead Weight Means on a Missile Spec Sheet
Only 112 of 213 missiles in our database publish both figures; the median warhead share is 17.7%, and Russia's 'hypersonic' Zircon posts just 7.5%.
News conflict · Jul 20, 2026
Russia's largest Kyiv barrage since 2022 met by 400-drone Moscow hit
Russia fired 41 missiles and 125 drones at Kyiv overnight, its largest barrage since 2022; within a day Ukraine hit Moscow with 400+ drones.
Article industry · Jul 10, 2026
Hypersonic Missiles: Only 2 of 38 Are New
Our database has 38 systems that exceed Mach 5. By the definition that separates real hypersonic weapons from fast ballistics, only 2 qualify.
Article industry · Jul 4, 2026
Which Hypersonic Missiles Are Actually Hypersonic?
Of 23 missiles in the WeaponSpecs database clocking Mach 5-plus, only 2 fly a true hypersonic regime. The rest are ballistic missiles falling fast.
Article industry · Jul 3, 2026
Hypersonic Missiles Explained: Hype vs Reality
Hypersonic missiles: what Mach 5+ actually means, why maneuver matters more than speed, and what's marketing vs fact.