On June 12, the Russian Navy’s frigate “Admiral Gorshkov” and nuclear submarine “Kazan” are anticipated to reach in Cuba, accompanied by a tanker and a tugboat. This transfer seems to be a present of energy, aiming to “unsettle” the U.S. with Zircon missiles stationed in Cuba, utilizing two of Russia’s newest vessels.
The U.S. has responded to this Russian maneuver. Washington’s stance might be summarized as vigilant however not overly involved. The scenario is kind of tense, provided that Russia has opted to place its latest ships close to the U.S. fleet. But, it’s additionally price contemplating how this transfer may affect Russia’s allies.
By deploying their Zircon missile carriers to Cuba, which hasn’t publicly supported Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the Kremlin appears to be testing the waters. Regardless of Cuba’s neutrality, Ukrainian analysts be aware that Cuba doesn’t hinder the recruitment of mercenaries for Russia’s forces. Due to this fact, it’s seemingly that Russia seeks to make use of this naval go to as a strategic gesture to exert affect, at the least on Cuba itself.
Now, let’s delve into what weapons Cuba at present possesses and the way this may occasionally appeal to the eye of “Russian emissaries.” Cuba’s arsenal consists of a number of hundred T-62s and PT-76s, although these fashions are over 60 years outdated. The whole variety of preventing autos is barely over 400 items.
Concerning artillery, the scenario in Cuba just isn’t significantly better. In line with The Army Steadiness 2023, Cuba has roughly 1.7 thousand artillery techniques. Nevertheless, the vast majority of these date again to the second half of the Nineteen Forties to the Nineteen Sixties.
The core of Cuba’s air protection consists of varied S-75 and S-125 techniques, a few of which have been upgraded utilizing T-55 chassis. With regards to fight aviation, Cuba has 5 MiG-29 and MiG-21 plane, although their present technical standing is unknown. The nation additionally has 12 Mi-35 helicopters and 20 Mi-8 helicopters, however once more, their operational standing is unsure.
The Cuban Navy holds a singular place as an unique drive. In line with The Army Steadiness, the Cuban Navy operates two Rio Damuji venture frigates, initially transformed from Nineteen Seventies Spanish trawlers. These frigates are primarily armed with two P-22 missile launchers, that are the export model of the P-15 “Termit.” Moreover, the Cuban fleet consists of six Venture 205 Osa boats with the P-15 missile launchers eliminated—the launchers themselves repurposed into coastal complexes generally known as Bandera IV—and 4 Rubezh coastal missile complexes additionally using the P-15 Termit.
At first look, it might sound that Russia views Cuba merely as a possible supply of mercenaries for its battle in opposition to Ukraine, particularly contemplating that the naval applied sciences talked about seem to belong to the period of Fidel Castro. Nevertheless, it’s vital to keep in mind that throughout the united states period, Cuba continuously acted as a proxy in Moscow’s conflicts throughout the African continent.
Given this historic context, it’s believable that Moscow nonetheless entertains the notion of reviving its Soviet-era African engagements, probably deploying Cuban forces geared up with uncommon T-62 and PT-76 tanks for these operations.
In any other case, Zircon might be one of the best of the “hypersonic” packages of the Russian Federation. The 3M22 Zircon, often known as Tsirkon, is a hypersonic cruise missile developed by Russia. It’s designed to be launched from each floor ships and submarines, making it a flexible weapon in naval warfare. The missile is a part of Russia’s effort to modernize its navy capabilities and keep a strategic edge.
The scale of the 3M22 Zircon are usually not formally disclosed, however it’s estimated to be round 8-10 meters in size. The missile’s diameter is believed to be roughly 0.6-0.7 meters. These dimensions permit it to be appropriate with current launch techniques on Russian naval vessels.
The propulsion system of the Zircon is a scramjet engine, which permits it to attain hypersonic speeds. A scramjet, or supersonic combustion ramjet, is an air-breathing engine that operates effectively at speeds above Mach 5. This propulsion methodology allows the Zircon to achieve speeds of as much as Mach 9, considerably decreasing the response time for enemy defenses.
The technical traits of the 3M22 Zircon embrace its capability to maneuver at excessive speeds, making it troublesome to intercept. The missile is designed to fly at altitudes starting from 30 to 40 kilometers, the place it might reap the benefits of decrease air resistance to take care of its hypersonic velocity. Its steerage system is believed to include each inertial navigation and lively radar homing, making certain excessive accuracy.
The Zircon might be geared up with varied varieties of warheads, together with typical high-explosive and probably nuclear warheads. This flexibility permits it for use in a variety of tactical and strategic situations. The missile’s damaging energy, mixed with its pace and maneuverability, makes it a formidable menace to each land and sea targets.
The operational vary of the 3M22 Zircon is estimated to be between 500 and 1,000 kilometers. This vary permits it to strike targets at vital distances, offering a strategic benefit in each offensive and defensive operations. The precise vary might fluctuate relying on the launch platform and particular mission parameters.
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