Another russian "no-equivalent" weapons myth has been dismantled, this time by Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR). For nearly a decade, russian propaganda has portrayed the 3M22 Zircon anti-ship missile as a unique hypersonic weapon powered by a scramjet. In reality, its propulsion system appears to be far less exotic.
According to a report by Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, the 3M22 Zircon does not use the high-tech hypersonic scramjet engine long claimed by russia. Instead, once its booster completes its burn, the missile's propulsion is provided by a 3L2211 solid-fuel rocket motor manufactured by NPO Iskra.
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This finding fundamentally changes the understanding of the Zircon. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine directly classifies the weapon as a ballistic missile. russia had previously claimed that the Zircon used high-energy liquid fuel known as decylin, with a ramjet engine maintaining sustained hypersonic speed during the cruise phase of flight.
Moreover, after analyzing Zircon fragments recovered in February 2024, the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (KNDISE) reported that the missile used a jet engine rather than a solid-fuel rocket motor.
Defense Express also received assurances at the time from its own sources that the 3M22 Zircon was supposedly equipped with a hypersonic scramjet. Other sources subsequently published images of individual missile fragments, including components identified as fuel tanks, which appeared to suggest a liquid-fueled propulsion system rather than a conventional solid-fuel rocket.
This created a situation in which several independent specialists apparently saw evidence in the wreckage that was not actually there.
The assumption that the Zircon used a scramjet was reinforced not only by years of russian claims and Western expert assessments, but also by radar tracking data. These indicated that the missile was indeed capable of maintaining a speed above Mach 5.
However, as Ukraine intercepted more Zircon missiles, the amount of available debris increased, allowing investigators to conduct additional analysis.
Combined with intelligence obtained during the intervening period, this work appears to have finally led to the HUR's conclusion two years later: the Zircon is a solid-fuel missile, rather than evidence that russia has mastered an advanced new propulsion technology.
The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine also confirmed information previously reported by Defense Express regarding the relatively small warhead of the 3M22 Zircon.
Defense Express initially estimated the warhead at approximately 100–150 kg. The HUR now puts its exact weight at 120 kg. The warhead, designated 3G22, is manufactured by GosNIImash.
For terminal guidance, the missile uses the 3B222 active radar homing seeker manufactured by NPP Radar MMS.
The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine has previously challenged another long-standing russian claim concerning the capabilities of the 9M723 ballistic missile used by the Iskander missile system.
Although russia had claimed for years that the missile could strike targets at ranges of up to 500 km, Ukrainian intelligence assessed its actual range at approximately 390 km. The newer Iskander-1000, however, is assessed to have a range of around 550 km.
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