Russian Navy to get hypersonic nuclear strike weapons, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned on Sunday the Russian Navy can be armed with hypersonic nuclear strike weapons and underwater nuclear drones, which the defence ministry mentioned had been of their remaining part of testing.

Putin, who says he doesn’t need an arms race, has usually spoken of a brand new era of Russian nuclear weapons that he says are unequalled and might hit virtually wherever on the earth. Some Western specialists have questioned how superior they’re.

The weapons, a few of which have but to be deployed, embrace the Poseidon underwater nuclear drone, designed to be carried by submarines, and the Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile, which could be deployed on floor ships.

The mixture of pace, manoeuvrability and altitude of hypersonic missiles, able to travelling at greater than 5 occasions the pace of sound, makes them troublesome to trace and intercept.

Speaking in St Petersburg at an annual naval parade that showcases Russia’s greatest ships, nuclear submarines and naval aviation, Putin mentioned the navy’s capabilities had been rising and it could get 40 new vessels this 12 months.

He didn’t specify when it could obtain new hypersonic weapons, however urged that day was drawing nearer.

“The widespread deployment of advanced digital technologies that have no equals in the world, including hypersonic strike systems and underwater drones, will give the fleet unique advantages and increased combat capabilities,” Putin mentioned.

In a separate assertion launched by way of Russian information companies, the defence ministry mentioned testing of the Belgorod, the primary submarine able to carrying the Poseidon drones, was underway and testing of the weapons techniques was nearing completion.

“Work is being successfully completed to create modern weapons systems for the Navy,” it was cited as saying.

Putin final 12 months threatened to deploy hypersonic missiles on ships and submarines that might lurk exterior U.S. territorial waters if the United States moved to deploy intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe.

Washington has not deployed such missiles in Europe, however Moscow is fearful it would.