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Russia has 'unstoppable' supersonic nuclear missile that cannot be traced by Western defence systems, says Putin | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Russia has tested an array of nuclear weapon systems including a new supersonic missile untraceable by enemy anti-missile systems, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced. | |
In a belligerent state of the nation speech delivered to lawmakers on Thursday, Mr Putin said the new weapons would be unique to Russia. | |
He announced a new intercontinental ballistic missile complex (ICBM) codenamed Sarmat. Weighing more than 200 tonnes, the system has an increased range over its predecessor. “No anti-missile system will get in its way,” claimed the president. The president made several other major announcements. First, new underwater drones capable of carrying nuclear bombs (an animation showed the submarine striking an aircraft carrier and seaside town.) Second, the development of a new nuclear cruise missile with unpredictable flight trajectory and unlimited range. | |
Capable of penetrating any anti-missile or air defence systems, this weapon has the potential to change the current international strategic balance. | |
There were “significant results” in the field of laser weapons, too, but Mr Putin declined to elaborate. | |
Throughout the course of his speech, the Russian president made it clear that the focus of new weapon systems was the United States. He claimed Russia had been moved to step up development in response to the United States’ withdrawal from the treaty on anti-ballistic weapons systems in 2002: “They thought we would never be able to recover economically, militarily, and so they didn’t take our opinion into account.” | |
Any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies would be considered an attack on Russia, he said. "Small-scale, large-scale, it doesn't matter — the response will be immediate" |