The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reveals 70 enterprises involved in production of Russian Tsirkon missiles
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has published data on 70 Russian enterprises involved in the production of 3M22 missiles of the Tsirkon complex. The intelligence also revealed the missile's structure, its key components, manufacturers of individual systems, and foreign technological equipment used by cooperation enterprises.
The new data appeared on 31 August in the section "Russian ballistic weapons" of the War&Sanctions portal. The GUR also published an interactive 3D model of the missile.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the main developer and manufacturer of the 3M22 is the Russian NPO "Mashinostroyeniya". In total, the production chain includes 70 enterprises that manufacture hulls, engines, control and homing systems, warheads, electronics, solid rocket fuel and other components.
Among them, the GUR names the "Tactical Missiles Corporation", the State Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering named after Bakhirev, NPO "Iskra", Research and Production Enterprise "Radar MMS", Central Research Institute of Automation and Hydraulics, Production Association "Strela" and other structures of the Russian defence-industrial complex.
The GUR compared claimed and recorded speed
Russia claims that Tsirkon is capable of accelerating to Mach 8–9 at certain stages of flight. However, according to the GUR, the maximum speed that was actually recorded during the missile's use did not exceed Mach 6.8 and was not maintained throughout the entire flight.
The length of the missile is about 8 meters, the hull diameter is 0.666 meters. The weight of the warhead, according to intelligence, is approximately 120 kg.
The GUR notes that this is a relatively small warhead for one of the most expensive Russian strike weapons. For comparison, the much smaller Russian cruise missile "Banderol" has a warhead weighing about 150 kg.
The missile has been adapted for ground launches
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Tsirkon was originally created as a naval missile for Russian nuclear submarines and frigates of project 22350, equipped with universal shipborne launchers 3S14.
However, after the capabilities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were significantly limited during the war against Ukraine, Russia adapted the 3M22 for launches from the Bastion-M coastal missile system.
The missile uses a combined guidance system: during the main flight stage, an inertial system operates, and at the final stage, an active radar homing head is used. Onboard computations are provided by the digital complex "Baget-83".
The launch and sustainer engines of Tsirkon, according to the GUR, are solid-propellant. After the missile leaves the container, the launch engine provides the necessary altitude and speed, after which the main sustainer engine is activated. The tail section of the missile is made of titanium.
Intelligence published data on foreign equipment
Separately on War&Sanctions, information has been collected on technological equipment of foreign origin used by enterprises involved in Tsirkon production. Data on officials and key employees of some of these companies has also been published.
The GUR explains that the publication of production cooperation should help international partners identify critical links in Russian defence production and technologies that the Russian Federation uses to manufacture missile weapons.
Based on materials from: GUR of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, War&Sanctions
