The Royal Navy is keeping an eye on a Russian warship loaded with 7,000mph hypersonic missiles as it sails through UK waters.
According to the Royal Navy, HMS Portland, a Type 23 frigate, is keeping an eye on the Russian guided missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the tanker Kama as they sail in international waters near the UK.
Admiral Gorshkov weighs 5,400 tonnes and measures 442 feet long. He is currently armed with Vladimir Putin’s “super weapon” zircon missiles.
The missiles have a range of 625 miles and are considered one of the world’s most lethal weapons.
“Escorting warships in UK territorial waters and adjacent sea areas is routine activity for the Royal Navy,” said HMS Portland’s commanding officer, Commander Ed Moss-Ward.
“By maintaining a visible and persistent presence, the Royal Navy ensures compliance with maritime law and deters malign activity to protect our nation’s interests.
“Along with forces from our NATO allies, we escorted the Russian task group, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to the alliance and to maintaining maritime security.”
As the Russian ships moved south through the Norwegian Sea, HMS Portland joined the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel Bergen, according to the Royal Navy.
Marking the start of its journey, Vladimir Putin hailed the ship’s power.
The Russian President said: “The frigate Admiral Gorshkov is embarking on a long sea voyage.
It is tracking and reporting on the movements of the Russian ships through the North Sea.
“There is nothing unusual here: it is commonplace, but this time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic rocket system Zircon, which has no match.
“It is a hypersonic sea-based system – [and the vessel has other] latest-generation weapons…
“As I said, it has no equivalent in any country in the world.”