By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
MOSCOW — Russia has tested an array of new strategic nuclear weapons that can’t be intercepted, President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday, marking a technological breakthrough that could dramatically increase Russia’s military capability, boost the Kremlin’s global position and also raise Western concerns about a potential renewed arms race in the 21st century.
Speaking in a state-of-the-nation speech, Putin said the weapons include a nuclear-powered cruise missile, a nuclear-powered underwater drone and new hypersonic missile that have no equivalent elsewhere in the world. He said the creation of the new weapons has made NATO’s U.S.-led missile defense “useless,” and means an effective end to what he described as Western efforts to stymie Russia’s development.
“I want to tell all those who have fueled the arms race over the last 15 years, sought to win unilateral advantages over Russia, introduced unlawful sanctions aimed to contain our country’s development: all what you wanted to impede with your policies have already happened,” he said. “You have failed to contain Russia.”
The announcement comes as Putin is set to easily win another six-year presidential term in the March 18 election.
He said that the nuclear-powered cruise missile tested last fall has a “practically unlimited” range and high speed and maneuverability allowing it to pierce any missile defense.
The Russian leader said the high-speed underwater drone also has an “intercontinental” range and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that could target both aircraft carriers and coastal facilities. He said its “very big” operational depth and a speed that is at least 10 times higher than any other vessel would make it immune to enemy intercept.
Putin accompanied his statement to an audience of hundreds of senior officials and lawmakers with videos and computer images of new weapons, which were shown on giant screens at a conference hall near the Kremlin.
A computer video showed the drone being launched by a submarine, cruising over the seabed, hitting an aircraft carrier and also exploding near the shore.
Putin noted that the tests of the compact nuclear reactor to power the new drone were completed last fall.
He added, to applause, that names for the nuclear-powered cruise missile and the drone haven’t yet been chosen, and suggested that the Defense Ministry run a nationwide contest for the best names.
“No one in the world has anything like that,” he said. “It may appear someday, but by that time we will develop something new.”
The Russian leader said that another new weapon called Avangard is an intercontinental hypersonic missile that would fly to targets at a speed 20 times the speed of sound and strike “like a meteorite, like a fireball.”
Putin said that the weapon is capable of performing sharp maneuvers on its way to targets, making it “absolutely invulnerable for any missile defense system.”
Putin said that Russia also tested a new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, called Sarmat, adding that its range allows it to fly over both the North and the South poles to reach any target. He said it carries more nuclear warheads than its Soviet-era predecessor, known in the West as Satan.
He said that another new weapons system, called Kinzhal, already has been deployed in Russia’s Southern Military District. He added that it’s a hypersonic missile carried by an aircraft that flies at a speed 10 times of the speed of sound and has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) away.
The Russian leader emphasized that the development of new weapons that have no equivalent in the West came in response to the U.S. withdrawal from a Cold war-era treaty banning missile defenses and U.S. efforts to develop a missile defense system.
He said that the U.S. has ignored Russian complaints.
“No one has listened to us,” he said. “You listen to us now.”
He emphasized that Russia is concerned about the Pentagon-led nuclear review released earlier this year that envisaged the development of low-yield nuclear weapons, saying that it could lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons.
“We will interpret any use of nuclear weapons against Russia and its allies no matter how powerful they are, of low, medium or any other yield, as a nuclear attack,” he said. “It will trigger an immediate answer with all the consequences stemming from it. No one should have any doubts about it.”
He said that Russian military experts and diplomats would be ready to discuss new weapons systems with their U.S. counterparts.
“We aren’t threatening anyone, we aren’t going to attack anyone, we aren’t going to take anything from anyone,” he said. “The growing Russian military power will guarantee global peace.”
Source: Oc Register
Putin boasts of new, indefensible Russian nuclear weapons
More from NewsMore posts in News »
- Biden administration sets higher staffing mandates. Most nursing homes don’t meet them
- Spirit Airlines shows improvements, but still finishes last in travel industry customer satisfaction study
- Pro-Palestinian student protests target colleges’ financial ties with Israel
- Dana Point Planning Commission sets hours for embattled Headlands bluff-top trail
- Sammy’s Law in California seeks to protect youth from social media drug sales
More from russiaMore posts in russia »
- Russian strike on Ukraine city kills at least 17 people
- EU general: Russia will soon outgun Ukraine 10-1 without US
- Russia concert hall attack suspects appear in a Moscow courtroom
- Putin says gunmen who raided Moscow concert hall tried to escape to Ukraine. Kyiv denies involvementPutin says gunmen who raided Moscow concert hall tried to escape to Ukraine. Kyiv denies involvement
- US, allies warn Iran against deal to send missiles to Russia
More from ScienceMore posts in Science »
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- Move over, fentanyl? Stimulant overdose deaths are rising fast
- NASA says JPL’s Mars rocks return program is too costly; leaders want ‘revised plan’
- PHOTOS: Total solar eclipse sweeps across North America
- During a solar eclipse, some Indigenous groups believe it’s not just your eyes that need protecting
More from technologyMore posts in technology »
- TikTok digs in to fight US ban with 170 million users at stake
- The real battle for data privacy begins when you die
- Rep. Jay Obernolte is driving the AI conversation in Congress — and he’s optimistic about it
- California lawmakers hold high hopes for new congressional AI task force
- AT&T says data of 73 million customers found on ‘dark web’ includes Social Security numbers
More from Top Stories BreezeMore posts in Top Stories Breeze »
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- Senior living: The importance of proper nutrition as you age
- Man breaks in to home of LA Mayor Karen Bass, is arrested
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
More from top stories ivdbMore posts in top stories ivdb »
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy used alias in double life as alleged outlaw biker
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
More from Top Stories LADNMore posts in Top Stories LADN »
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- Man breaks in to home of LA Mayor Karen Bass, is arrested
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
More from Top Stories LBPTMore posts in Top Stories LBPT »
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- Senior living: The importance of proper nutrition as you age
- Rich Archbold: Kids enjoy roar of Grand Prix of Long Beach thanks to King Taco
- Grand Prix of Long Beach’s final day is here — and it’ll be a fun one
More from Top Stories OCRMore posts in Top Stories OCR »
- Dana Point Planning Commission sets hours for embattled Headlands bluff-top trail
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- Nonprofit accuses Orange of using unrealistic parcels in its housing plan
- Bill allowing kids to pull animals from fair auctions (and slaughter) faces opposition
More from Top Stories PEMore posts in Top Stories PE »
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy used alias in double life as alleged outlaw biker
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
More from Top Stories PSNMore posts in Top Stories PSN »
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
- 37% more Southern California workers added in March than average
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
More from top stories rdfMore posts in top stories rdf »
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy used alias in double life as alleged outlaw biker
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
More from Top Stories SGVTMore posts in Top Stories SGVT »
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
- 37% more Southern California workers added in March than average
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
More from top stories sunMore posts in top stories sun »
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy used alias in double life as alleged outlaw biker
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
More from Top Stories WDNMore posts in Top Stories WDN »
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
- 37% more Southern California workers added in March than average
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
More from World NewsMore posts in World News »
- Pro-Palestinian student protests target colleges’ financial ties with Israel
- Haiti’s fragile health system nearing collapse as chaos grips country
- Ethiopia opens door for prized coffee exports to foreigners
- Russian strike on Ukraine city kills at least 17 people
- Iran’s conflict with Israel puts US ally Jordan on edge
Be First to Comment