Russia Flexes 'Zircon' Missile, Belarus Drills: A US Surprise Visit!

Russia Shows Off 'Zircon' Hypersonic Missile

Russia announced last Sunday a successful test launch of the 'Zircon' (Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise missile in the Barents Sea, coinciding with joint military exercises with Belarus. The exercises included Su-34 supersonic fighter-bombers conducting ground strike drills.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the joint exercises, codenamed 'Zapad-2025,' began on September 12th and aim to enhance military command and coordination between the two countries in the event of an attack.

Tensions with NATO

Despite Russia and Belarus emphasizing that the exercises are 'purely defensive' and not intended to attack NATO member states, NATO launched 'Eastern Sentry' operation after a Russian drone entered Polish airspace on September 9-10. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russia's actions 'increase regional tension.'

Zircon Missile Capabilities

A video released by the Russian Defense Ministry showed the Northern Fleet frigate 'Admiral Golovko' vertically launching the Zircon missile, which hit the target at a speed of 9 Mach (approximately 11,000 km/h). A 'direct hit' was confirmed through real-time monitoring data.

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2019 disclosure, the Zircon missile can strike naval and air targets within 1,000 kilometers. Its 3M22 variant uses a scramjet engine, covers a range of 400-1000 kilometers, and carries a warhead weighing 300-400 kilograms. This missile test is seen as a direct response to Western sanctions, particularly amid escalating tensions on NATO's eastern flank.

Su-34 Fighter-Bombers

Su-34 fighter-bombers (NATO designation 'Fullback') assumed ground attack missions in the exercises. The aircraft is equipped with 12 external hardpoints, capable of carrying 8 tons of ammunition, including precision-guided bombs and anti-radiation missiles, with a range of 4,000 kilometers. Russian media reported that the Su-34's 'platypus' flattened nose design enhances its low-altitude penetration capabilities, and the drill focuses on testing the efficiency of its combat operations in coordination with ground forces.

Surprise Pentagon Visit

In a surprising development, US Department of Defense (Pentagon) officials arrived at the Belarusian military exercise site on Monday, having received permission from Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin to 'freely observe elements of interest.' The Belarusian Defense Ministry stated that this is the first time the 'Zapad-2025' exercises have been opened to NATO members. Representatives from 23 countries, including two other NATO members – Turkey and Hungary – participated in the observation.

US Policy Towards Belarus

This move is closely related to the Trump administration's recent policy towards Belarus. Last week, during a visit by Trump's special envoy John Coale, Belarus agreed to release 52 prisoners (including journalists and political opponents), while the US lifted sanctions on the national airline Belavia, allowing it to repair Boeing aircraft. Coale revealed that Trump plans to reopen the US embassy in Belarus soon and promote bilateral economic and trade relations.

Analysis

Analysts point out that the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises aim to strengthen the military alliance, while the US intention to 'circumvent' sanctions against Russia through Belarus is evident. For example, Belavia's Boeing aircraft parts may flow to Russia via Belarus, bypassing the Western ban on the Russian aviation industry. This move by the Trump administration is seen as a continuation of the 'art of the deal' - using the release of prisoners as a bargaining chip to secure a neutral space for Belarus in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Russia's deployment of the Zircon missile into active service and the US officials' 'surprise' visit highlight the complexity of the current geopolitical situation. For Russia, the deterrence of hypersonic weapons can offset NATO's advantage in conventional military strength. For the US, opening a loophole in sanctions against Russia through Belarus may be a means of creating favorable conditions for promoting Russian-Ukrainian peace talks.

It is worth noting that Trump delivered a personal letter to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko last week through Coale, emphasizing the 'special nature of US-Belarusian friendship' and presented him with White House-themed cufflinks. This pattern of 'private diplomacy' contrasts sharply with the Biden administration's hawkish approach, suggesting that a significant adjustment may be on the horizon in US strategy towards Russia.