This is the moment a Russian nuclear submarine fires a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile from underwater for the first time ever.

The footage, released by the Russian Defence Ministry, is the first time a Zircon cruise missile has been fired from underwater in the Barents Sea.

The grainy footage was released by the ministry yesterday, 4th October, and shows the crew onboard the Severodvinsk nuclear submarine firing the missile with a 300-400 kilogramme (661-881 lb) warhead.

The Defence Ministry wrote that the test was “deemed successful”.

According to the ministry, the missile is capable of flying at 15,449 kph (6,900 mph), which is nine times the speed of sound.

The Zircon, otherwise known as Tsirkon, measures 11-12 metres (36-39 feet) in length and has a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) while flying at a maximum altitude of 28,000 metres (91,863 feet).

This test was the second time the missile was fired and the video was released on the same day (4th October).

Earlier that day, the ministry posted footage of the missile being launched from the surface of the Barents Sea.

In August, Admiral Charles A. Richard of the US Navy said: “Because of these challenges, our current terrestrial- and space-based sensor architecture may not be sufficient to detect and track these hypersonic missiles.”

The Kremlin claims that the cutting edge missile will greatly increase Russia’s military might.

The missile is reportedly undergoing tests until the end of 2022.

Once testing is completed, the missile is expected to be used to arm Russian cruisers, frigates and submarines.