A Russian official has said that the country's nuclear submarines will be equipped with hypersonic missiles.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): The head of Russia's largest shipbuilder said in an interview with the state news agency (RIA) that Russia is equipping its new nuclear submarines with "Zirken" hypersonic missiles.
 
Alexey Rahmonov, the executive director of United Shipbuilding Company (USC), said: "Yasen M" multi-purpose nuclear submarines will be regularly equipped with the Zirkon missile system.
 
Reuters reported that the Yasen-class submarines, also known as Project 885M, are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines built to replace Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines as part of an army and fleet modernization program.
 
Sea-based Zircon hypersonic missiles have a range of 900 km (560 mi) and can travel at several times the speed of sound, making them difficult to defend against.
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that Russia would begin mass production of zirconium missiles as part of the country's efforts to bolster its nuclear forces.
 
The Russian multi-role frigate Admiral Gorshkov, which tested its attack capabilities in the western Atlantic earlier this year, is already equipped with Zircon missiles.