Russia has flexed its hypersonic military muscle, successfully test-firing a devastating Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise missile during its ZAPAD military exercises on September 4. The missile, traveling at a blistering Mach 9, struck a target in the Barents Sea with a direct hit, showcasing a weapon designed to cripple large warships and bypass all existing NATO air defense systems. The firing of missile comes amid soaring tensions with NATO after Poland said Russian drone breached its airspace.