Russia's war-mad President Vladimir Putin is about to unleash a deadly 6,670mph hypersonic missile.
The “unstoppable” Tsirkon – or Zircon – will be fired from frigate Admiral Gorshkov during naval exercises off the coast of Africa during a join exercise with fellow despot-led nation China.
While the missile is capable of holding nuclear warheads, the training launch will not come fitted with that.
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It has been reported that it will be launched at a “surface target” around 310 miles away, but what the target is has not been revealed.
The latest show of strength by the Kremlin dictator follows a provocative “electronic” launch at an “enemy surface target” as it sailed in the western Atlantic off the coast of the United States.
The Mach 9 hypersonic launch will come during drills with China and South Africa named Exercise MOSI in the Indian Ocean off KwaZulu-Natal province between February 17 and 26.
"During the upcoming exercise with the navies of South Africa and China, a training launch of a Tsirkon hypersonic missile will be carried out, to be the first-ever during an event of this kind," a source told Russian state news agency TASS.
The Gorshkov has been closely monitored by NATO navies on its mission armed with the 6,670mph Mach 9 weapon which has a maximum 625 mile range.
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The frigate is also carrying Kalibr missiles, a type used in Russia ’s aggression in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin personally took part – remotely – in the farewell ceremony when the warship departed from Arctic naval base Severomorsk on 4 January.
He said: “I am sure that such a powerful weapon will allow us to reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and help ensure our country's national interests.”
Moscow has boasted that the Gorshkov is “the most dangerous enemy of surface ships in the world’s oceans” now it is armed with the new hypersonic missile.
The vessel’s captain 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.”
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