Russia develops hypersonic 4,600mph missiles which can destroy Royal Navy’s top warships in single strike
HYPERSONIC cruise missiles developed by Russia could destroy the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers in a single strike, experts fear.
Deadly Zircon missiles can travel up to SIX times the speed of sound at 4,600 mph and reportedly more than 600 miles.
Currently, the Royal Navy's Sea Ceptor can shoot down missiles travelling at 2,300 mph, which is nowhere near Zircon's capabilities.
One senior Naval source told the Sunday People: “Hypersonic missiles are virtually unstoppable.
"With no method of protecting themselves against missiles like the Zircon the (UK) carrier would have to stay out of range, hundreds of miles out at sea."
Pete Sandeman, a naval expert, said: “Even if the missile is broken up or detonated by close-in weapons, the debris has so much kinetic energy that the ship may still be badly damaged.”
The Royal Navy’s new £6.2bn aircraft carriers - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales - already face delays and soaring costs according to a bombshell report published recently.
Nuclear-powered Admiral Nakhuimov battle cruiser could be the first Russian ship equipped with the lightning fast weapon when it returns to service next year.
The rocket-mounted weapons come equipped with a radar target seeker and the ability to avoid enemy missiles, and they can be launched from land, sea carrier or submarines and fitted with a range of warheads from explosive to nuclear.
Harry J Kazianis, executive editor of US foreign policy magazine The National Interest, wrote such missiles could turn "America's super-carriers into multi-billion dollar graveyards for thousands of sailors".
Kremlin chiefs announced in October the development of the Satan II nuclear rockets - each capable of wiping out an area the size of Texas or France.
Last month it emerged Russia had secretly deployed a cruise missile in violation of a historic arms control treaty with the US.
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