How Russian Hypersonic Missile Carrier Compares to US Destroyers

Russian Fleet Movement

A group of Russian ships and submarines, including a nuclear submarine and a naval frigate, are moving towards Cuba, conducting missile tests en route.

Russian Submarine Capability

The submarine, part of the Admiral Gorshkov class, is equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles, which can hit sea and ground targets and are designed to penetrate antimissile defenses.

U.S. Monitoring

U.S. officials are closely monitoring the activity but do not view it as threatening or dangerous.

Russian Frigates

Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, developed by Severnaya Verf in St. Petersburg, feature modern stealth capabilities and advanced radar systems, costing around $250 million each.

U.S. Destroyers

U.S. destroyers, particularly the Arleigh Burke-class, are designed for multi-mission adaptability and cost around $2 billion each.

Armaments

Admiral Gorshkov frigates carry Zircon hypersonic missiles (Mach 9, over 1,000 km range), Kalibr, and Oniks cruise missiles. 

Operational History

The Admiral Gorshkov class has been active since 2018, participating in various naval exercises, including recent missile drills in the Atlantic. U.S. destroyers have a longer operational history

Defensive Capabilities

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