Russian Hypersonic Rocket Scientist Alexander Leonov Passes Away at 74

Tribute to Alexander Leonov

Alexander Leonov, a prominent Russian scientist known for his work on hypersonic rockets, has passed away at the age of 74. He was instrumental in the creation of the BrahMos missile and played a significant role in the development of the Zircon hypersonic missile. Leonov held the position of CEO and Chief Designer at NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOMASH), which is the Russian joint venture partner of BrahMos Aerospace based in New Delhi.

As reported by the RBC news portal, details regarding the cause of his death and the location remain undisclosed. Leonov was recognized for his contributions to the Zircon (Tsirkon), a ship-launched hypersonic cruise missile designed to target both surface and land objectives. This missile is part of the 3K22 missile system, which was officially introduced into service in January 2023.

The Zircon missile can be launched from naval vessels and submarines, making it suitable for coastal defense operations. According to various sources, it can achieve speeds of up to Mach 9, which is nine times the speed of sound, and has a striking range between 400 to 1,500 kilometers, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Leonov, who was awarded the Golden Star of Hero of Labour, was also involved in the design of various space and missile systems. His work included the development of the Granit, Vulcan, and Bastion coastal defense systems, as well as the Onyx (BrahMos) missile, contributing significantly to the Russian-Indian BrahMos joint venture and advanced hypersonic vehicle projects.