US hypersonic missiles more advanced but Russia maybe closer to deployment

Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic missiles and Skif missiles hiding at the ocean bottom are part of the arsenal of the Russian Armed Forces according to ex-Chief of the Aerospace Force and Head of the Federation Council Defense and Security Committee Viktor Bondarev.

Other Russian sources say the hypersonic Tsirkon (Zircon) missile is still undergoing state trials this year and has not yet been accepted for service.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov earlier told journalists that the first pop-up tests of the most advanced Sarmat missile were scheduled for late 2017.

Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Council of Russia’s Military and Industrial Commission Yuri Mikhailov said US hypersonic missiles are more technically advanced but the Russian hypersonic program is more effective.