Russian President Vladimir Putin recently bragged about the capabilities of his country’s upcoming nuclear weapons in a speech to military academy graduates.
Putin is boasting that new Russian weapons are decades ahead of foreign rivals https://t.co/dukSLo9YBF
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) June 29, 2018
The Kremlin leader claimed that the weapons are significantly ahead of anything else in the world and will greatly increase Russia’s military capabilities.
“A number of our weapons systems are years, and, perhaps, decades ahead of foreign analogues. Modern weapons contribute to a multifold increase in the Russian military potential,” Putin said to a group of young military officers.
“We have achieved a real breakthrough thanks to the colossal efforts by science and design bureaus and industries, a real feat by workers, engineers and scientists,” Putin told the officers.
Putin specifically mentioned the new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the new Avangard hypersonic vehicle as two of Russia’s biggest recent military innovations.
He also highlighted the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, which has already been put on duty.
The Russian president pointed out in his speech that the Avangard will have the ability to fly at more than 20 times the speed of sound, and can easily change its altitude and course when headed toward a target, which makes it “absolutely invulnerable to any air or missile defense means.”
In addition, the Avangard features a new composite material that can handle temperatures of up to 2,000 Celsius (3,632 Fahrenheit).
Having the ability to withstand such high temperatures is necessary, as it will be flying through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.
The introduction of the Sarmat will allow for the aging Soviet-designed Voyevoda nuclear weapons to be retired.
Relations between Russia and the U.S. are currently at one of the lowest points since the Cold War.
Some of the issues that have come up between the two counties include Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, the Syrian civil war, nuclear arms control and the crisis in Ukraine.
President Trump will be meeting with Putin for a summit on July 16 in Helsinki, Finland, and the leaders are expected to discuss many of those issues.
Analysts expect Trump to propose a deal with Putin at the summit that will allow for the U.S. to “get out (of Syria) ASAP.”
The plan allegedly allows for Russia to help Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad reclaim parts of his country near the Jordanian border, where a U.S.-led coalition has been facing opposition from “an unidentified hostile force.”
Trump believes that allowing Assad to take back parts of Syria will make it easier for the removal of U.S. troops. By allowing Assad’s regime to reclaim land, Trump expects Russia to assure that Syria will not massacre U.S.-backed rebels in the region.
