- Category
- Latest news
The Man Behind Russia’s Deadly Zircon Hypersonic Missile Dies at 75
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Alexander Leonov, the general designer of Russia’s military-industrial corporation NPO Mashinostroyenia, has died at the age of 75, the company’s press service confirmed.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
According to Russian news agency Interfax, Leonov’s death was confirmed by the company, though no cause was disclosed.
Leonov led NPO Mashinostroyenia—one of Russia’s key missile and space industry enterprises—since 2007, following the death of his predecessor.
The company, based in Reutov, operates under Russia’s Tactical Missiles Corporation and plays a central role in the development of advanced strike systems.
Leonov oversaw and directly contributed to the development of several major missile programs, including the Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missile and combat payloads for the Avangard intercontinental ballistic missile system.
He was also involved in earlier Soviet- and Russian-era systems such as the Granit and Vulkan anti-ship complexes, as well as the Bastion coastal defense system equipped with P-800 Oniks supersonic missiles.
In addition to missile systems, Leonov’s tenure included the launch of Kondor-E Earth observation satellites and continued work on the joint Russian-Indian BrahMos missile project.
Several months before his death, Leonov reported a significant increase in Zircon missile production. “All that we were supposed to do—at least everything related to the delivery of particularly important systems—we have fully completed all our plans, we did not disrupt a single task, everything was completed on time,” he said, according to Interfax.
The Zircon missile, developed starting in 2011 and tested from 2016, entered serial production in 2022 and was officially adopted into service in January 2023. Russian officials have claimed it can reach speeds of up to Mach 9 with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers.
The missile is designed for launch from naval platforms, including surface ships and submarines, and may be adaptable for coastal systems.
In 2024, Russian leader Vladimir Putin stated that Zircon missiles had been used in strikes against Ukraine, describing the system as having “no analogues in any country in the world.”
Russian officials have also stated that Zircon missiles were used in strikes against Ukraine, including attacks targeting Kyiv, highlighting their role in the ongoing war and placing the system among the most advanced weapons deployed in the war against Ukraine.
-9a7b3a98ed5c506e0b77a6663f5727c5.png)
