Russia's Perm Submarine to Carry Hypersonic Zircon Missiles by 2026

The Russian Navy's new nuclear submarine Perm, a sixth Yasen‑M (project 885M) vessel, is slated to enter service before the end of 2026. Built at the Sevmash shipyard and launched in March 2025, the 130‑metre, 13‑metre‑wide boat is the first Russian submarine designed from the outset to launch the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile as a standard capability.

Perm will feature eight vertical launch tubes, each capable of holding up to four Zircon missiles, or alternatively Onyx or Kalibr missiles. The Zircon can travel at Mach 8‑9 (9,800‑11,000 km/h), has a range of 500‑1,000 km and can be equipped with conventional or nuclear warheads, posing a new challenge to U.S. and allied naval defenses. Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, commander‑in‑chief of the Russian Navy, confirmed the submarine’s integration into the fleet’s Pacific forces.

Analysts note that the combination of stealth, deep‑water launch capability and hypersonic speed makes Perm a significant addition to Russia’s under‑sea deterrent, potentially altering the strategic balance in the Indo‑Pacific region.