russian propaganda resources claim that the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic sea-launched missile has been adapted for the Gremyashchiy-class corvette of project 20385 in the Pacific Fleet and is set to be adapted for another ship of the same project named Provorny, which has already been launched and is currently undergoing trials.
This means that now russians have formally increased the number of sea-based carriers of the Zircon missile, which until now was limited to the frigate Admiral Gorshkov (Project 22350) and the K-560 Severodvinsk is a Yasen class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine of the russian Navy, which recently conducted a voyage to Cuba.
Read more: How russian 3M22 Zircon Reached Hypersonic Yet Failed to Accomplish the Very Task it was Created For
Although with missile corvettes of Project 20385, which due to geographical factors cannot be involved in the war against Ukraine, the question still arises: will russians be able to adapt the missile carriers of the russian Black Sea Fleet in the same way for Zircon missiles?
russian ships of Project 20385 have a full displacement of 2400 tons, a hull length of 92 meters, and a draft of 7.92 meters. They have an autonomy and cruising range of 15 days and 4000 miles at 15 knots, with a crew of 100 people.
The armament includes one 100-mm A-190 artillery mount, eight 3S14 launchers for Kalibr, Oniks (and Zircon) missiles, 16 vertical launchers for Redut air defense systems, and 2 quadruple 324-mm torpedo tubes.
It should be noted separately that the russian Project 20385 belongs to ships intended for maritime zones. This already demonstrates that at this stage, russia does not have sufficient resources to deploy the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile on various types of carriers.
Separately, it is demonstrative that even russians acknowledge that integrating the Zircon onto any surface warship requires separately modifying the 3S14 vertical launch system, which necessitates full-fledged shipbuilding capabilities.
russia lacks such capabilities in the Black Sea, so the prospect of integrating Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles onto ships of the russian Black Sea Fleet at this time appears unlikely.
Read more: Did russia Launch Refurbished Irkutsk Submarine for the Zircon missiles Despite Delays?
