Russia Launches Nuclear Submarine With Hypersonic Zircon Missiles

On March 27, 2025, Russia stunned global defense circles by launching the Perm, a next-generation nuclear submarine of the Yasen-M class, specifically built to carry the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile—a weapon touted as “impossible to intercept.”

This launch, framed by Moscow as a routine naval advancement, signals a tectonic shift in global strategic stability. The nuclear submarine Perm isn’t just another vessel; it’s a highly advanced mobile launch platform for the Zircon missile, which travels faster than any known defense system can react to.

The launch occurred amid escalating geopolitical tensions, with the Kremlin accelerating its military modernization programs. According to Russian officials, the Perm is set to become fully operational by 2026 and will be a key component of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, strategically positioned to project power into both the Arctic and Indo-Pacific regions.

Russia Launches Nuclear Submarine With Hypersonic Zircon Missiles — Perm nuclear submarine of the Yasen-M class being launched at the USC Sevmash. *Picture credit: JSC PO Sevmash*

However, the real story lies not just in the submarine itself but in the missile it carries: the Zircon hypersonic weapon. This game-changing technology could render existing naval defenses obsolete, highlighting the growing importance of nuclear submarines in modern warfare.

All about The Perm

The Perm submarine represents the cutting edge of Russian undersea warfare technology. As part of the Yasen-M class, the Perm is a modernized and more lethal variant of the original Yasen-class attack submarines, already considered among the most advanced in the world. Designed for multi-role combat, it can strike both land and naval targets with high precision.

What sets the Perm apart is its designation as the first submarine specifically optimized to deploy Zircon missiles, integrating launch tubes, targeting systems, and onboard electronics tailored to this hypersonic weapon.

It is believed to operate with near-silent propulsion, deep-sea cruising ability, and extended endurance—making it difficult to detect and even harder to stop. Its deployment to the Pacific is not a coincidence; it’s a signal to adversaries in the region, particularly the United States and its allies, that Russia is prepared to challenge naval supremacy.

President Vladimir Putin used the Perm’s launch as a platform to announce that eight new nuclear submarines would join the Russian fleet in the coming years. Even under the strain of international sanctions and wartime economic burdens, Moscow is determined to sustain, and even escalate, its defense ambitions.

Zircon: The Hypersonic Game-Changer

At the heart of global alarm is the Zircon missile—a weapon that defies traditional missile defense logic. The 3M22 Zircon is a scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile capable of reaching Mach 8 to 9 (around 6,900–7,000 mph). That’s more than ten times faster than a Tomahawk cruise missile and significantly quicker than the response time of most current radar and missile defense systems.

Its reported range of up to 1,000 km (621 miles) allows it to strike targets from a standoff distance, outside the protective envelope of conventional naval defenses. The missile creates a plasma cloud as it travels, absorbing radio waves and rendering it practically invisible to radar—a feature dubbed “plasma stealth.” This combination of speed and stealth makes it virtually impossible to intercept with any known surface-to-air missile systems like the U.S. Aegis or Patriot.

While Zircon can be equipped with conventional or nuclear warheads, it’s the potential nuclear configuration that has drawn the most concern. A high-speed, radar-evading missile launched from a stealth submarine creates a first-strike capability that compresses decision-making time to seconds—an unacceptable risk in any conflict scenario.

Read also: How Do Hypersonic Missiles Work?

However, it’s not without flaws. The plasma blackout—the very feature that provides stealth—also affects onboard sensors and communications, leading to accuracy issues, especially against moving targets. In addition, Russia’s limited maritime surveillance infrastructure poses challenges in providing real-time targeting data.

Comparing the Hypersonic Landscape

While the Zircon missile currently dominates headlines, it is merely one piece of a much broader and intensifying global hypersonic arms race. Among the major players, Russia stands at the forefront, having already operationalized a triad of advanced hypersonic weapons.

The Kinzhal, launched from MiG-31 fighter jets, can reach speeds of Mach 10 and has already seen combat use during the war in Ukraine. The Avangard, another of Russia’s cutting-edge systems, is a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) mounted atop intercontinental ballistic missiles, reportedly capable of reaching a staggering Mach 20 while maneuvering at hypersonic speeds to evade traditional missile defenses.

The Zircon, launched from naval platforms like the newly launched Perm submarine, adds a maritime dimension to Russia’s hypersonic capabilities, offering both tactical flexibility and strategic deterrence.

At the same time, China is aggressively pushing forward with its own hypersonic programs. The DF-ZF, an HGV launched via ballistic missiles, and the DF-17, a medium-range missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle, have already entered operational service.

These systems showcase China’s growing proficiency in maneuverable, high-speed weapons, backed by substantial investment in testing infrastructure such as hypersonic wind tunnels and specialized flight ranges. This commitment signals a long-term strategy aimed at matching or surpassing Western and Russian capabilities in this critical domain.

Meanwhile, the United States, despite its historic dominance in aerospace technology, appears to be lagging behind in hypersonic deployment. American programs such as the AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) and various Hypersonic Glide Vehicle initiatives are still in testing phases, with full operational readiness expected later this decade.

Notably, the U.S. has so far prioritized conventional payloads and precision strike capabilities, opting to steer away from nuclear-armed hypersonics. This approach reflects a different doctrinal emphasis—one focused on regional precision strike potential rather than strategic nuclear deterrence.

Watch: Why the US Can’t Keep Up with Russia’s Hypersonic Missiles

The Zircon distinguishes itself with its scramjet engine and naval launch capability. However, it struggles with limitations in range and targeting precision, especially when measured against China’s more refined systems such as the DF-ZF.

Russia’s hypersonic approach prioritizes raw speed and radar evasion, yet China appears to be ahead in terms of testing infrastructure, technological consistency, and fielded systems. Meanwhile, the United States, although trailing in terms of operational deployment, is strategically concentrating on developing highly accurate, conventionally armed hypersonic weapons.