---
title: "Russia will not fire hypersonic missile at South Africa naval exercise"
description: "RICHARD'S BAY, South Africa, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Russia will not fire its new generation \"Zircon\" hypersonic missile during a joint naval exercise it is participating in alongside South Africa and China, a senior Russian naval officer said on Wednesday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Naval drills"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-22-russia-will-not-fire-hypersonic-missile-at-south-africa-naval-exercise/"
published: "2023-02-22T14:42:01"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 139
---

# Russia will not fire hypersonic missile at South Africa naval exercise

> RICHARD'S BAY, South Africa, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Russia will not fire its new generation "Zircon" hypersonic missile during a joint naval exercise it is participating in alongside South Africa and China, a senior Russian naval officer said on Wednesday.

By Reuters · Published 22 February 2023, 16:42 SAST

## Key points
- Russia's 10-day naval exercise off South Africa's eastern coast has raised alarm among Western governments. The exercise, which coincides with the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prompted speculation that a test launch of the Zircon missile system would take place. However, Captain Oleg Gladkiy, who is heading the Russian contingent, denied these reports and said no test launch would occur. President Vladimir Putin has called the hypersonic weapon "unstoppable". Despite this, Gladkiy reassured there is no hidden meaning in the exercises being performed.
- Russia's 10-day naval exercise off South Africa's eastern coast has raised alarm among Western governments.
- The frigate participating in the drills was reported to perform a training launch of the Zircon missile system.
- Captain Oleg Gladkiy, who is heading the Russian contingent, said no test launch would take place.
- President Vladimir Putin has called the Zircon missile "unstoppable".

## Content

The 10-day exercise, which is taking place off South Africa's eastern coast and coincides with the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, [has raised alarm](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N34W529&linkedFromStory=true) among Western governments.

Russia's TASS news agency reported earlier this month that a frigate participating in the drills would perform a training launch of the Zircon missile system during the exercise.

However Captain Oleg Gladkiy, who is heading the Russian contingent, said during a media briefing that no test launch would take place.

"The hypersonic weapon will not be used in the context of these exercises," Gladkiy said. "There is no hidden meaning in the exercises that we are performing today."

President Vladimir Putin has called the Zircon, which can travel at more than five times the speed of sound, "unstoppable".

(Reporting by Siyabonga Sishi in Richard's BayWriting by Joe Bavier)