Vladimir Putin said Russia alerted the world when it tested the next-generation international continental ballistic missile this month. Named “Satan II” by NATO, Sarmat is an advanced weapons delivery system capable of striking anywhere in Europe or the United States with a devastating nuclear charge. It can reportedly travel more than 11,000 miles, deliver 10 tons of explosives and reach speeds of 20 Mach. To put this in context, the speed of sound is Mach 1 and Washington DC is 4,800 miles from Moscow. It marks a major upgrade to Russia’s Cold War nuclear arsenal, and the West is closely monitoring its development. But the Sarmat is by no means the only weapon used by the Kremlin’s network of military scientists and industrialists. In March 2018, Mr. Putin delivered one of the most aggressive speeches of his time in power up to that point. To view this video, enable JavaScript and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video He revealed that his Ministry of Defense was working on numerous top-secret weapons plans, which he said would give the Kremlin the upper hand over NATO. It is difficult to separate the fact from the fantasy about the weapons that Russia has developed since then, but some details have been leaked – perhaps deliberately – while independent experts have been able to gather more. In addition to Sarmat, we know of five other terrifying plans that Putin is trying to bring to life to bring his military to the same level as NATO. These are the weapons he says will ensure that Russia is a 21st century superpower, whether the West likes it or not. These are the six advanced weapons the Kremlin is working on behind the scenes (Image: Missile / Metro Threat)
Avangard HGV
Sliding missiles are a new class of weapons developed by the world’s military superpowers. Like ballistic missiles, they leave Earth’s orbit before re-entering, but gliders are designed to be more flexible as they approach their target, making them more difficult to intercept. They fly at a lower altitude, giving them the speed of an ICBM but the ability to fly below the field of view of defense systems like a cruise missile. Vladimir Putin has claimed that the Avangard’s course can be adapted to the air and that it will travel from above between Mach 20 and 27, which would make it one of the fastest weapons ever developed. The units responsible for maintaining the weapon are already in combat service. Sliding missiles are a next-generation weapon that combines the characteristics of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles – more than the Chinese model unveiled in 2019 (Image: Getty)
Poseidon Autonomous Submarine Vehicle
The West is aware of the development of an unmanned submarine drone since 2015, a new type of weapon system capable of carrying a nuclear weapon. It is reported to have been designed to reach a depth of 1,000 meters and – if the nuclear energy reports are correct – has a theoretically unlimited range. According to an American analysis, it would be transported to a conventional submarine and would be armed with two megaton warheads that could explode below the surface. New weapons to be launched by Russian submarine fleet (Image: EPA) It is believed to be intended as a response weapon if Russia is hit first with a nuclear payload. In addition to being able to hit naval targets with conventional warheads, it could be used to attack coastal cities by triggering what reports have described as a “radioactive tsunami” during the blast near the coast. Vladimir Putin described them as “quiet, extremely flexible and [they] they have almost no vulnerabilities for the enemy to exploit. “
Burevestnik Nuclear Missile Cruise
Russia is trying to develop a cruise missile with a theoretically unlimited range, because it would be powered by a nuclear reactor. Cruise missiles are designed to fly at low altitudes to avoid detection and to hit high-precision targets. Buresevestnik had a problematic development: a nuclear-powered test flight crashed when it exploded, killing at least five nuclear scientists who were sent to retrieve it from the sea where it had crashed. Vladimir Putin sees advanced weapons as key to Russia’s ability to challenge its enemies (Image: EPA) An American report said it would be a “unique” weapon if the technical difficulties could be overcome, but the weapon still seems to be in progress. In a ceremony honoring the experts killed in the August 2019 bombing, Putin said Russia would “definitely perfect this weapon no matter what.”
Kinzhal ballistic missile
The Kremlin has developed a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that can be launched from an aircraft. According to the US, the weapon is a modified version of the Iskander missile system, a ground-based launcher used for more than a decade, designed to be mounted on a supersonic fighter aircraft. Its shorter range means that it was developed potentially to attack naval targets, but, unlike other weapons on the list, it may have already been used in Ukraine. Russian military leaders oversee the deployment of the Khinzal on a fighter jet (Image: Russian Ministry of Defense) On March 19, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it had struck a weapons depot in western Ukraine using the missile, although it could not be verified what type of weapon was actually developed. If confirmed, it would be the first time a supersonic rocket – a rocket capable of traveling at five times the speed of sound – would be used in warfare. The Khinzal could be mounted with a nuclear warhead, but it carried a conventional bomb when Russia says it was used in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin has claimed that he can move in the air and that the pace at which he launches and travels is designed to help him avoid missile defense systems. MORE: Flash, secretive and kinetic: Why Russian oligarchs just love a mega-yacht
Tsirkon Ultrasonic Cruise Rocket
The Tsirkon is an anti-ship supersonic cruise missile capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound and can be launched from surface or submarine vessels. Vladimir Putin has claimed that he can hit a target 1,000 kilometers away and that the Ministry of Defense is developing a land version. Launched by a booster engine, it achieves fast speeds by absorbing the air around it through a “scramjet” and flying so fast into the atmosphere that the air in front of it turns into a creature. This is important because the plasma absorbs radio waves, making it difficult for missile detection systems to detect it. Contact our news team by emailing us at [email protected] For more stories like this, check out our news page.
