Defence & Space

Hanwha to deliver K9 MH wheeled howitzer prototypes to the US Army

Hanwha Defense US, the US subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, will deliver six K9 MH wheeled howitzer prototypes to the…

2026-08-19 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Rheinmetall and Hensoldt integrate Twinvis passive radar with air defense system

German defense group Rheinmetall AG and Hensoldt have announced that, during the German Air Force’s Timber Express 2026 exercise, they demonstrated…

2026-08-19 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

ICEYE Federation: How can the effectiveness of national satellite constellations be increased?

In recent years, ICEYE has been increasingly developing its portfolio of services aimed at military customers. This European company, which builds satellites…

2026-06-17 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 14 minutes

MSBS Grot: A Polish firearm with its own DNA

The MSBS Grot is a family of carbines and rifles developed by Polish engineers, the military, and users who gradually shaped its…

2026-06-14 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 12 minutes

Hanwha to deliver K9 MH wheeled howitzer prototypes to the US Army

Hanwha Defense US, the US subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, will deliver six K9 MH wheeled howitzer prototypes to the…

2026-08-19 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Rheinmetall and Hensoldt integrate Twinvis passive radar with air defense system

German defense group Rheinmetall AG and Hensoldt have announced that, during the German Air Force’s Timber Express 2026 exercise, they demonstrated…

2026-08-19 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

U.S.-UAE artificial intelligence task force

U.S. Central Command announced an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to establish the first bilateral task force aimed at accelerating the…

2026-07-28 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Quantum Systems and Rohde & Schwarz cooperate on unmanned systems programs

German companies Quantum Systems and Rohde & Schwarz have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in integrating electronic warfare and signals…

2026-05-13 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

MSPO 2026: Record-breaking edition driven by dual-use technologies

The 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) will take place at Targi Kielce on September 8–11, 2026. This year’s edition has already…

2026-08-18 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

Mehler Protection returns to Poland for MSPO 2026

Mehler Protection, part of Mehler Systems and a manufacturer of personal and platform ballistic protection, is returning to MSPO in Kielce from September…

2026-08-17 | Rafał Muczyński | 2 minutes

Hanwha to deliver K9 MH wheeled howitzer prototypes to the US Army

Hanwha Defense US, the US subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, will deliver six K9 MH wheeled howitzer prototypes to the…

2026-08-19 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Rheinmetall and Hensoldt integrate Twinvis passive radar with air defense system

German defense group Rheinmetall AG and Hensoldt have announced that, during the German Air Force’s Timber Express 2026 exercise, they demonstrated…

2026-08-19 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Poland: One year of Operation Safe West

July 7, 2026, marked the first anniversary of the launch of Operation “Safe West.” One year earlier, soldiers of the…

2026-07-09 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

US Customs and Border Protection orders more Airbus H125 helicopters

European company Airbus Helicopters has finalized a contract for the purchase of 10 H125 light helicopters by US Customs and Border Protection’s…

2026-07-09 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Hanwha to deliver K9 MH wheeled howitzer prototypes to the US Army

Hanwha Defense US, the US subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, will deliver six K9 MH wheeled howitzer prototypes to the…

2026-08-19 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Rheinmetall and Hensoldt integrate Twinvis passive radar with air defense system

German defense group Rheinmetall AG and Hensoldt have announced that, during the German Air Force’s Timber Express 2026 exercise, they demonstrated…

2026-08-19 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Trump limits US participation in South Korea’s Ulchi Freedom Shield 2026 exercises

President Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to reduce US military participation in the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise in South Korea, citing…

2026-08-17 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall and Boeing deepen cooperation on European CCA project

Rheinmetall and Boeing have announced the launch of a joint program aimed at rapidly introducing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities in Germany –…

2026-08-10 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Astrolight and ATMOS Space Cargo sign laser communications cooperation agreement

Astrolight and ATMOS Space Cargo are planning the world’s first in-flight laser communications link between a spacecraft returning from orbit and…

2026-08-18 | Redakcja | 6 minutes

Airbus to supply communications satellite to Spain

Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Spanish operator Hisdesat to develop and build the SpainSat NG-III satellite, Europe’s most…

2026-08-07 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes
Shooting

Sightmark Introduces the Mini Shot M‑Spec Solar Enclosed M4 Closed‑Emitter Red Dot Sight

Sightmark expands its lineup with a new closed‑emitter reflex sight — the Mini Shot M‑Spec Solar Enclosed M4. Designed for hunting and…

2026-08-21 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

New FALCO D910 L chest holster

FALCO, a Slovak holster manufacturer with many years of experience, is introducing the D910 L — a long‑awaited Kydex chest holster welcomed by the…

2026-08-21 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Sightmark Introduces the Mini Shot M‑Spec Solar Enclosed M4 Closed‑Emitter Red Dot Sight

Sightmark expands its lineup with a new closed‑emitter reflex sight — the Mini Shot M‑Spec Solar Enclosed M4. Designed for hunting and…

2026-08-21 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

New FALCO D910 L chest holster

FALCO, a Slovak holster manufacturer with many years of experience, is introducing the D910 L — a long‑awaited Kydex chest holster welcomed by the…

2026-08-21 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

BC ARMS USA: Polish defense company enters the American market

BC ARMS USA is a new company based in California that will offer Americans ballistic protection equipment of Polish design.

2026-07-01 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Soft armor vest Titanium Tactical QR I from Greek Anorak

The Greek company Anorak offers a soft bulletproof vest, Titanium Tactical QR I, available for sale from EUR 599 to EUR 738.

2026-06-23 | Rafał Muczyński | 2 minutes

Polish team wins King of 2 Miles 2026 competition

Jakub Sidorowicz as the shooter and Rafał Rutkowski as the spotter won the demanding King of 2 Miles long-range competition in France, scoring two…

2026-05-12 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

This Year’s Spring Delta Long Range Weekend Concludes

Another edition of the Delta Long Range Weekend has concluded. Long-range shooting enthusiasts met at the Military Institute of Armament Technology…

2026-05-11 | Grzegorz Sobczak | 4 minutes

CZ Bren 3 for Montenegro

On July 24th, 2026, Colt CZ Group officially announced the signing of an agreement for the delivery of products from Česká…

2026-07-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

New 1–10x LPVO: Sightmark Presidio 1–10×26 SFP

Sightmark is introducing a new Presidio 1–10×26 SFP low‑power variable optic, designed to stand out with an MRAD reticle featuring a centrally illuminated…

2026-07-22 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Mantis TitanX now available at the Strefa Celu store

Strefa Celu (Jammas) announces the arrival of advanced Mantis TitanX training devices, which, taking the form of a Glock pistol replica…

2026-04-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Delta Long Range Weekend 2026 coming on May 9

This year’s edition of Delta Long Range Weekend will take place on May 9. Do you shoot mid-range, long-range, or extreme long-range? Test…

2026-03-16 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Growth in Firearm Permits in Poland Continues in 2025

The National Police Headquarters has released a report on firearm permits in Poland in 2025. The number of shooters continues to increase, with nearly 45,000…

2026-02-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 6 minutes

Poland: Temporary Ban on Carrying Firearms in Warsaw on November 11, 2025

Minister Marcin Kierwiński has instructed the security services to take measures ensuring safety during the Independence March in Warsaw and other events…

2025-10-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 9 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Mactronic Patrol RX Flashlight – Six-Month Field Review

I received the Mactronic Patrol RX for testing at the end of 2025. After more than six months of use, I can now…

2026-07-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 9 minutes

KJI K950 Carbon – a tripod for discerning shooters

The concept of tripods in shooting has firmly taken root in shooters’ minds. The idea of using tripods began to take shape during…

2026-06-11 | Jarosław Lis | 10 minutes

Light on the Rifle: Why It Changes Everything Inside a Building

Weapon-mounted lighting is one of the most discussed and least understood categories in tactical equipment. This is a guide to what it actually…

2026-07-13 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Russians Use the Hypersonic Zircon in Combat for the Fourth Time

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the fourth combat use by Russia of the hypersonic 3M22 Zircon cruise missile during another large-scale missile-and-drone attack.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since 7:00 p.m. the previous day, Russia had carried out another air-and-missile attack on critical infrastructure facilities, launching 372 weapons, mostly drones, against at least seven regions.

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

The Russians launched:

  • 1 hypersonic 3M22 Zircon cruise missile from occupied Crimea;
  • 18 Iskander-M ballistic missiles / S-300 surface-to-air missiles from the Bryansk and Rostov regions;
  • 15 cruise missiles from over the Volgograd region;
  • 339 unmanned aerial vehicles, including approximately 250 Geran/Shahed-type drones and various decoy drones (including Gerbera), launched from the directions of Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Bryansk in Russia, as well as Hvardiiske and Chauda in Crimea.

The main direction of the attack was the Kyiv region.

The attack was repelled by aviation, air defense missile troops, electronic warfare (EW) units and unmanned systems, as well as mobile air defense groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to preliminary data, as of 10:00 a.m. local time, air defense systems shot down or caused the crash of 342 aerial targets, including 14 Iskander-M/S-300 missiles, 13 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and 315 UAVs over the north, south, east, and central parts of the country. At present, five missile impacts and 24 UAV impacts have been recorded at 11 locations. The impact or crash sites of two missiles have not been established.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

Preliminary reports on the situation in the regions after the Russian attack are already coming in. Kyiv and the regions of Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Sumy, and other regions of our country. Repair crews, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and all necessary forces are engaged everywhere.

The Russian attack involved a significant number of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as more than 300 strike drones. Our air defense forces intercepted a large number of targets. The day before the attack, we finally received the necessary missiles, which helped significantly. Every support package matters. Missiles for Patriot, NASAMS, and other air defense systems are critically needed. The direct task of our entire diplomatic system is to ensure that Ukraine has sufficient air defense capabilities. And partners must not fail in this task – air defense missiles are real protection of human life.

As part of a special energy consultation, we will determine all details regarding the consequences of the attack and the resources needed to restore electricity, heating, and water supplies for the population. The most difficult situation is currently in Kyiv, where a significant number of residential buildings are without heating. It is important that the world does not remain silent on this issue. Russia cannot be treated on par with other countries of the world as long as it focuses exclusively on killing and torturing people. All Ukrainian officials – all those responsible for the work of state institutions, regional and local authorities, and Ukrainian energy companies – must now be in Ukraine, working, helping people, and trying to stabilize the situation. Being in the country, in our cities, with our communities is essential. Glory to Ukraine!

State Emergency Service of Ukraine:

During the night, Russia attacked an industrial facility in the Poltava region. Fires broke out at several locations. Rescuers quickly extinguished them. Equipment from the State Emergency Service was used in the response, along with two fire units from the railway company Ukrzaliznytsia.

Map of attacks (source):

Map: mon1tor_ua via Telegram

According to the map above, the impact or crash of the hypersonic Zircon in question was recorded most likely in the vicinity of Vinnytsia, although the flight paths of two missiles are also indicated. These data should be treated with caution when compared with the official statement.

3M22 Zircon

This marked the fourth combat use of the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile (NATO reporting name: SS-N-33). Previous attacks took place only in 2024 – on February 7, March 25, and November 17.

The 3M22 Zircon has been under development in Russia since 2012 at the Morozov Design Bureau of NPO Mashinostroyeniya in Reutov. According to some sources, the missile, powered by a ramjet with a supersonic combustion chamber (scramjet), is believed to be 9 meters long, 60 cm in diameter, and to carry a warhead weighing 300–400 kg (possibly also a nuclear one). It is reportedly capable of reaching speeds of Mach 8–9, as demonstrated during test launches. The missile’s range is estimated at 500–1,000 km (with some sources citing up to 1,500 km), and its maximum flight altitude is approximately 28,000 meters. The first and second stages of the missile, designated izdeliye 3L2211 and izdeliye 3L2212, are said to be powered by decylin (T-10). This is a high-calorie synthetic aviation fuel originally developed for the Raduga Kh-55 cruise missile by the Raduga. It is reportedly highly toxic. The exact chemical composition remains classified, but its simplified chemical formula is C₁₀H₁₆.

Launch of a 3M22 Zircon missile from the Project 22350 guided-missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov during exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, December 3, 2024.

Serially-produced Zircon missiles were ordered on August 23, 2021, during the 7th International Military-Technical Forum Army-2021 (August 22–28) in Kubinka near Moscow. Deliveries were to begin in 2022 and conclude in 2025 (or 2026, according to more recent information). According to documents, 80 missiles were ordered.

Although originally designed as ship-launched missiles for eight-cell universal vertical launchers 3S-14 of the UKSK system, deployed on surface combatants of Project 22350, the single modernized Project 1144.2M cruiser, and Project 885M submarines, analysts believe that attacks against targets in Ukraine employed an experimental configuration using mobile wheeled launchers based on the K-300P Bastion-P coastal defense system (DIA/NATO designation: SSC-5 Stooge). These launchers are originally intended for the P-800 Oniks/Yakhont anti-ship missile (SS-N-26 Strobile). However, photographic evidence confirming such integration has never surfaced. In November 2022, the Russian news agency TASS reported on experimental integration tests of the Zircon with a mobile ground-based launcher. A less likely, but not impossible, alternative would be the fixed Object 100 Utes/Sotka coastal missile complex at the naval base in Balaklava, Sevastopol. However, maps of the most recent attacks do not indicate its use, at least in this case.