Does Russia have "more advanced" weapons than NATO?What kind of weapon did Putin mean when he spoke about protecting Russia with all available means?
Figaro asked this question. Russia's nuclear potential is known, but what are the means of delivery? Is the Russian leadership bluffing, proud of hypersonic missiles? Readers are asked not to check it.
One phrase remained unnoticed in Vladimir Putin's address to the nation on September 21. Too busy commenting on the announcement of partial mobilization and "deciphering" the phrase of the Russian president about "nuclear blackmail", Western commentators did not pay attention to an interesting detail in his speech:
"I would like to remind everyone that our country has a variety of military resources, some of which are more advanced types of weapons than those produced by NATO countries." The Russian President also made such a statement that he would not hesitate to use all the necessary types of weapons to "counteract the territorial integrity" of Russia.
If it is confirmed that Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, exceeding even the potential of the United States, we will have to take seriously the phrase that Russia possesses weapons that surpass even the arsenals of NATO countries and Russia's sworn enemy, the United States…
What types of weapons is Putin talking about? Undoubtedly, he is alluding to those missiles and drones that he presented with great fanfare in the winter of 2018, proud of their "invincibility", "invisibility" and unlimited range. These are hypersonic missiles capable of flying at a speed of Mach 5, that is, five times the speed of sound. They are capable of maneuvering at such a speed, which means that these missiles are less vulnerable to Western anti-missile systems.…
We may be talking about the X-47M2 Dagger missiles, which Russia has threatened to use to destroy an underground weapons depot in western Ukraine. These devices, after their testing in 2018, were repeatedly placed in combat readiness positions.
We are also talking about missiles, which are called 3M22 "Zircon". They reach even higher speeds (Mach 8), and during tests they were launched from the Arctic, once from a surface ship, and the second time from a nuclear submarine. "Officially, the Zircons are undergoing testing, but Russia actively presents this stage as completed. Many launches were carried out from frigates of the Russian fleet," comments Igor Delanoe, deputy director of the joint Franco-Russian Observation Center in Moscow.
The Avangard hypersonic vehicle is considered a jewel in the Russian army, it reaches a speed of Mach 27 and is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 6000 kilometers. It was adopted in December 2019, but, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, it has never been used… Hypersonic missiles are also owned by China.
The United States is currently developing its hypersonic missile models, but they are lagging behind. It can be concluded that Russia does indeed possess some types of weapons that are superior to those that are in service with NATO. True, they do not guarantee Russia's superiority over NATO, but are only able to give Russia the opportunity to say: our capabilities are not inferior to the combined potential of the United States, France and Great Britain, notes Igor Delanoe from the Franco-Russian Observation Center.
Readers' comments:Chez Gegene
All this does not negate the ability of Western nations to turn Russia into a pile of smoldering coals in a minute.
Putin knows this, but he does not give the impression of a suicide.
BobbifThese "developed" weapons" for some reason do not prevent Russia from retreating in Ukraine.
UnbekannteThe Americans themselves are to blame for the development of hypersonic missiles in other countries: Russia and China began to produce them in response to the "anti–missile shield" (missile defense - missile defense), which the United States began to forge for themselves.
A corresponding sword will always be forged on any shield.
ZinvBut I am glad that Russia has such missiles.
The balance of power is the only guarantor of peace and diversity on the planet. By diversity, I mean the pluralism of political and economic systems.
Clay ZenYou shouldn't play Star Wars with the Russians.
Remember how they "selectively" destroyed one of their satellites next to the spacecraft of other countries, and everyone almost went crazy from the damage that could have been caused. I don't think the Russians are lagging behind us in the production of various "Novichok" type poisons.
