August 5, 2025 — According to Military Watch Magazine, Russia has reportedly outfitted its fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet with a hypersonic missile — a development that could significantly enhance Moscow’s air combat capabilities. The missile in question is believed to be an air-launched variant of the Zircon, a high-speed weapon originally designed for use by the Russian Navy.
Citing comments from Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev, First Deputy Commander of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, the outlet notes that the Su-57 has been integrated with hypersonic weapons. If confirmed, this would mark a major leap in the aircraft’s strike capabilities and broaden its operational role — from air superiority missions to long-range precision strikes.
Russian media previously reported that a scaled-down version of the Zircon for air deployment was under development as early as 2023. While no official specifications have been released, the ship-launched Zircon is known to reach speeds up to Mach 9 and strike targets at ranges of up to 1,000 kilometers.
Western analysts view the air-launched adaptation of the Zircon as part of Russia’s broader strategy to expand its hypersonic arsenal across multiple platforms. Originally designed for naval use on surface ships and submarines, the missile now appears to be evolving into a multi-domain weapon with potential land- and air-based applications.
If these developments are accurate, the Su-57 would become one of the few fighter aircraft globally equipped with hypersonic strike capability — a factor that could complicate current NATO air and missile defense systems, many of which are not yet capable of reliably intercepting hypersonic threats.
There are also indications that the Zircon may eventually be integrated into other Russian fighters, such as the Su-35S, which belongs to the so-called “generation 4++” class of aircraft.
In light of these advancements, Western defense experts are urging greater investment in counter-hypersonic technologies. The potential deployment of air-launched hypersonic weapons by Russia underscores the urgent need to adapt both strategic doctrine and defensive infrastructure to address the emerging realities of high-speed warfare.
