Creator of Russia's Zircon hypersonic missile dies
Russia also used these missiles for strikes on Ukraine.
Alexander Leonov. Photo: press service of the Governor of the Moscow region of Russia
Alexander Leonov, the creator of the Zircon hypersonic missile and head of the Russian military-industrial corporation "NPO Mashinostroyenia", has died at the age of 74.
"Zircon" is a Russian ship-based hypersonic cruise missile designed to hit surface and ground targets. It was adopted into service in 2023. The missile is launched from ships and submarines and has a range of 400 to 1,500 km.
Russia also used these missiles for strikes on Ukraine.
Leonov was born on February 26, 1952, in Morshansk, Tambov region, Russia. He graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute with a degree in "aircraft" and immediately after graduation began working at TsKBM (from 1983, it became "NPO Mashinostroyenia").