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Putin launches Zircon missile that can hit 'US in five minutes' on birthday, Internet says 'name it Donnie J'

Moscow's state-controlled TV has described the launch as the Russian president's weapon of choice should he need to wipe out major US cities

Vladimir Putin celebrated his 68th birthday in characteristic style, successfully launching an "unstoppable" 4,600 mph Zircon hypersonic missile. Moscow's state-controlled TV has described the missile as the Russian president's weapon of choice should he need to wipe out major US cities in the event of a nuclear war, The Sun reported.

The birthday boy reportedly called the launch "a great event not only in the life of the Armed Forces but also in the whole of Russia," adding that the latest missile was “the newest, truly unparalleled weapon system in the world” that ensured “the defense capability of our state."

General Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of General Staff, confirmed the missile successfully hit a target in the Barents Sea after being launched from the White Sea. “The task was completed successfully, a direct hit was registered,” he said. “The range of the flight reached 450 kilometers [279 miles], maximum altitude 28 kilometers, the duration of the flight was 4.5 minutes."

Putin was visibly thrilled as he hailed the missile test and those who had contributed to making Zircon a reality. "This work — we know about it — is a huge work of our scientists, engineers, talented workers, military specialists," he said. "This is a big stage in equipping the Armed Forces with the latest systems."

"I know that all of you act not only as customers but also as full-fledged participants in the process of creating such modern systems. Once again, I congratulate you on this event and wish you continued success," he added. Zircon, a hypersonic cruise missile, is set to enter production in 2021 and would be fully operational the following year. It is reportedly designed to be used against ships or land-based targets.

According to The Sun, the missile was involved in a military accident last year, where a radiation leak killed two and wounded at least six people. Greenpeace cited the Russian Emergencies Ministry to reveal how radiation levels temporarily soared 20 times above the normal in a town near the weapons testing site.

Last year, Dmitry Kiselyov, presenter of Russian weekly TV news show 'Vesti Nedeli' and a top Putin propagandist, said the Zircon missile could hit possible US targets in less than five minutes. Earlier this year, Putin warned that the West was looking to steal secrets regarding Zircon and other state-of-the-art Russian weapons including the Avangard. "That means that your work should become even more effective," he allegedly told his FSB counterintelligence service team. 

Twitter, however, was inundated with reactions following Putin's birthday missile-testing, with some noting its possible ramifications on the West. "#putin probably named the missile — the Donnie J — after his pal #trump," one wrote. "This needs to be watched. It’s Putin’s birthday, but the timing and location has me on edge. Hypersonic missile testing!!!" a second added. "No big deal you guys, but Russia just successfully tested a hypersonic missile that is capable of bypassing America's missile defense systems...," artist Zach Tutor wrote. "Because I lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis, I just have to think Putin might be thinking of something right now," another chimed in.