Russian Warship Admiral Golovko. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense
The Russian warship Admiral Golovko, equipped with hypersonic cruise missiles Zircon, recently conducted military drills in the English Channel, between the coasts of France and the United Kingdom.
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Currently, the ship is on missions in the Atlantic Ocean, according to Russian news agencies.
The frigate, part of Russia’s Northern Fleet, participated in training exercises that included simulated drone attacks from both air and sea. These exercises are part of the ship’s training program, highlighting its advanced technology as a step forward in Russian defense.
The Admiral Golovko is the third ship of the Admiral Gorshkov class and the newest in the Russian Navy, having been commissioned in an official ceremony attended by President Vladimir Putin in December 2023. This class of frigates is equipped with 16 vertical launch system (VLS) cells capable of carrying the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile. This missile, which can reach speeds several times the speed of sound and has a range of up to 900 km, poses a significant challenge to conventional defense systems.
This mission marks the first long-distance deployment of the Admiral Golovko since its incorporation into the Russian Navy. The frigate departed from its base in northern Russia on November 2, beginning a series of exercises that include navigating strategic waters like the English Channel.
The Zircon missiles, along with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, are central to Russia’s hypersonic strategy, designed to counter evolving U.S. missile defense systems. Prior to Golovko’s entry into service, former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had announced that the warship would be equipped with these state-of-the-art hypersonic weapons.
While transiting the English Channel, the HMS Iron Duke of the British Royal Navy escorted the Admiral Golovko and its support ships as they headed westward, ensuring monitoring of its passage through this geopolitically sensitive area.
Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense. Video: X @BRICSinfo. Source: Sputnik International. This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
