A Russian Navy warship equipped with hypersonic missiles has conducted drills in the English Channel, Russian state news agencies reported on Tuesday.
The frigate, which is equipped with Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic anti-ship missiles, reportedly conducted counter-terrorism drills – repelling air and sea drone attacks from a mock enemy.
RFS Admiral Golovko was escorted by the Royal Navy’s HMS Iron Duke after it conducted exercises in the Barents, Norwegian and North seas, according to TASS news agency.
The Russian ministry of defence said the frigate had crossed the narrowest part of the channel, Pas-de-Calais, on Sunday after leaving its base in Severomorsk, Russia on Nov 2.
The “main task of the mission” was to “demonstrate the flag and ensure the naval presence in important areas of the off-shore maritime zone”, the ministry added.
“The Northern Fleet frigate Admiral Golovko has completed its passage through the English Channel and is currently continuing to carry out missions in the designated areas of the Atlantic Ocean,” a statement from the Northern Fleet’s press service said.
It marked the first long-distance journey of the warship since it was incorporated into the Russian Navy in December last year.
Just before it went into service, Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister at the time, said that the modern warship will be equipped with new-generation Zircon missiles.
The sea-based hypersonic missiles have a range of 900km (560 miles) and can travel at several times the speed of sound, making them hard to defend against.
Vladimir Putin ordered the mass supply of Zircon missiles in 2023 as part of Russia’s efforts to bolster its nuclear forces and claimed they could be used to pierce US missile defences.
“The crew of the Admiral Golovko frigate of the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet held exercises in the English Channel,’ said the Russian defence ministry TV channel Zvezda.
“The sailors practised anti-submarine and anti-aircraft defence, and conducted a training rescue operation using Ka-27 helicopters.”
The Telegraph has contacted the Ministry of Defence for comment.