Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has released a 3D model and details on the components and production of russia’s 3M22 Zircon ballistic missile.

This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on social media.

The Zircon was developed as a weapon for naval platforms (the letter “M” in the product designation), intended for russian nuclear-powered submarines and Project 22350 frigates equipped with 3S14 UKSK universal launch systems. During russia’s war against Ukraine, facing significant difficulties in operating its fleet in the Black Sea, the enemy had to adapt 3M22 missiles for launch from Bastion-M coastal missile systems.

The 3M22 warhead weighs approximately 120 kg, which is an extremely small figure for the most expensive missile among all of russia’s strike weapons.

For comparison, even the small-class cruise missile “Banderol” has a 150 kg warhead.

After the missile exits the ship or coastal missile system’s launch container, a booster engine starts, allowing the missile to gain the altitude and speed required to ignite the sustainer engine. Once the booster separates, the main sustainer engine starts.

Both engines — the booster and the sustainer — use solid propellant.

The missile’s initial alignment with the course toward the target is provided by the guidance and stabilization system’s engines, located inside a protective fairing that is subsequently separated from the missile.

The enemy has claimed that the missile can reach speeds of Mach 9 at certain stages of its flight. However, the maximum recorded speed of the 3M22 currently does not exceed Mach 6.8 and is not maintained throughout the entire flight.

The 3M22 uses a combined guidance system: an inertial guidance system during the cruise phase and an active radar homing seeker during the terminal phase.

The missile features the “Baget-83” onboard digital computing system, which is typical of all Russian ballistic missiles.

The missile’s tail section contains electro-hydraulic control actuators and aerodynamic control surfaces, which serve as its primary steering surfaces. During transport, the control surfaces are folded; after the missile exits the launch container, they unfold. The entire tail section of the 3M22 is made of titanium.

In addition to information on the missile’s design and components, data has been published on 70 companies involved in the production of 3M22 Zircon ballistic missiles and their main systems and assemblies, missile bodies, engines and solid rocket propellant. The data also includes information on officials and employees of key companies, as well as foreign technological equipment used by these enterprises.

According to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine’s social media posts, the new “Ballistic Weapons of russia” section of the War&Sanctions portal aims to focus the international community’s attention on the key technologies behind the aggressor’s terror.