This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-nuclear-weapon-tests-drones-west-nato-defence-systems-putin-presidential-address-a8234296.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Russia has 'unstoppable' supersonic nuclear missile that cannot be traced by Western defence systems, says Putin Russia has 'unstoppable' supersonic nuclear missile that cannot be traced by Western defence systems, says Putin
(35 minutes later)
Russia is developing a series of nuclear weapon systems, including a new supersonic cruise missile capable of overcoming NATO defence systems, Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed. Russia is developing a series of nuclear weapon systems, including a new supersonic cruise missile capable of overcoming NATO defence systems, Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed. 
In a belligerent state of the nation speech delivered to federal lawmakers on Thursday, Mr Putin said the weapons are both new and unique to Russia. In a belligerent state of the nation speech delivered to federal lawmakers on Thursday, Mr Putin said the weapons are both new and unique to Russia. 
He confirmed tests of a new intercontinental ballistic missile complex (ICBM) codenamed Sarmat. Weighing more than 200 tonnes, the system has an increased range over its predecessor, and able to fly at minimal altitude, he claimed. He confirmed tests of a new intercontinental ballistic missile complex (ICBM) codenamed Sarmat. Weighing more than 200 tonnes, the system has an increased range over its predecessor, and able to fly at minimal altitude, he claimed. 
“No anti-missile system — even in the future — has a hope of getting in its way,” said the president. “No anti-missile system — even in the future — has a hope of getting in its way,” said the president. 
Several major announcements followed. Russia was developing new underwater drones capable of carrying nuclear bombs, he said. Codenamed Status-6, the drones can travel in deep water “at speeds many times that of current submarines, the most modern Ctorpedos and even the speediest surface boats.” Several major announcements followed. Russia was developing new underwater drones capable of carrying nuclear bombs, he said. Codenamed Status-6, the drones can travel in deep water “at speeds many times that of current submarines, the most modern torpedos and even the speediest of surface boats.”
On cue, an animation showed the new submarine destroying a NATO-resembling aircraft-carrier strike force and a seaside town. On cue, the audience applauded. On cue, an animation showed the new submarine destroying a NATO-resembling aircraft-carrier strike force and a seaside town. On cue, the audience applauded. 
There was more. “Heroic” military developers had delivered a new class of supersonic nuclear cruise missiles. The new missiles had a range “dozens” of times above current models and were capable of flying at unpredictable trajectories and low-altitudes. There was more. “Heroic” military developers had delivered a new class of supersonic nuclear cruise missiles. The new missiles had a range “dozens” of times above current models and were capable of flying at unpredictable trajectories and low-altitudes. 
“Their ability to move around missile shield intercepts make them invincible for all current and projected anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems,” said Mr Putin.“Their ability to move around missile shield intercepts make them invincible for all current and projected anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems,” said Mr Putin.
Cue more animations of destruction, and more applause from the audience. Cue more animations of destruction, and more applause from the audience. 
  
Given claims of rendering anti-missiles defence systems useless, Russia’s new class of weapons would seem to offer a serious challenge the current strategic balance. Given claims of rendering anti-missiles defence systems useless, Russia’s new class of weapons would seem to offer a serious challenge the current strategic balance. 
But Igor Sutyagin, a military expert at RUSI, an international defence and security think tank based in London, suggested the announcements amounted to little more than “horror stories.” But Igor Sutyagin, a military expert at RUSI, an international defence and security think tank based in London, suggested the announcements amounted to little more than “horror stories.” 
Issues of production lines, finance and science made many of the technical claims suspect, he said. Most of the technology was not new: “It's a cheap marketing trip. An old product, new package, with a new price label.”Issues of production lines, finance and science made many of the technical claims suspect, he said. Most of the technology was not new: “It's a cheap marketing trip. An old product, new package, with a new price label.”
 “I’m not sure if he understands what he said about low altitude, but intercontinental ballistic missiles have been flying at low altitude since at least the 1980s,” said Mr Sutyagin.   “I’m not sure if he understands what he said about low altitude, but intercontinental ballistic missiles have been flying at low altitude since at least the 1980s,” said Mr Sutyagin.  
The Status-6 underwater drone meanwhile went against the "philosophy" of Russian military planning. “You’d lose control over the weapon for approximately one week," he said. "The Russian thinking about nuclear weapon use is all about keeping tight control of the weapon for as long as possible.” The Status-6 underwater drone meanwhile went against the "philosophy" of Russian military planning. “You’d lose control over the weapon for approximately one week," he said. "The Russian thinking about nuclear weapon use is all about keeping tight control of the weapon for as long as possible.” 
  
In the lead up to Vladimir Putin’s fourteenth state of the nation address, few anticipated such a dramatic speech. Traditionally, the event has been used to outline domestic policy priorities to his regional henchmen. This year, of course, there was another dimension. With the speech delayed for three months, it had become a central event of the presidential election campaign.  In the lead up to Vladimir Putin’s fourteenth state of the nation address, few commentators anticipated such a dramatic speech. Traditionally, the event has been used to outline domestic policy priorities to his regional henchmen. This year, of course, there was another dimension. With the speech delayed for three months, it had become a central event of the presidential election campaign.
In the run-up to the speech, presidential aides promised it would offer a vision of the future to ordinary Russians. While Mr Putin remains popular among core constituencies, most Russians are now experiencing their fourth year of shrinking real-terms incomes. In the run-up to the speech, presidential aides promised it would offer a vision of the future to ordinary Russians. While Mr Putin remains popular among core constituencies, most Russians are now experiencing their fourth year of shrinking real-terms incomes. 
True to the promise, Mr Putin spent much of the first hour of his speech focussing on matters of domestic peace. He touched on many of Russia’s acupuncture spots. He made striking promises. He'd halve poverty. He'd double health spending. He'd increase support to parents by 40%. He'd improve ecological conditions. And he'd extend life expectancy by 10 years. Even more remarkable for a president in his eighteenth year of power were his promises to "increase freedom and democracy” and curtail regulatory pressure on business. True to the promise, Mr Putin spent much of the first hour of his speech focussing on matters of domestic peace. He touched on many of Russia’s acupuncture spots. He made striking promises. He'd halve poverty. He'd double health spending. He'd increase support to parents by 40%. He'd improve ecological conditions. And he'd extend life expectancy by 10 years. Even more remarkable for a president in his eighteenth year of power were his promises to "increase freedom and democracy” and curtail regulatory pressure on business. 
But it was in the second hour, with an abrupt turn to war, that the sparks flew. The simple animations that accompanied Mr Putin’s military presentation, showing east-west trajectories for his new weapons, left little to the imagination. This speech was a bellicose challenge to Russia's rediscovered geopolitical foe, the United States. It was sort of gesture that wearied Russian voters tend to enjoy. But it was in the second hour, with an abrupt turn to war, that the sparks flew. The simple animations that accompanied Mr Putin’s military presentation, showing east-west trajectories for his new weapons, left little to the imagination. This speech was a bellicose challenge to Russia's rediscovered geopolitical foe, the United States. It was sort of gesture that wearied Russian voters tend to enjoy. 
Mr Putin said Russia had stepped up military development in response to the 2002 U.S. withdrawal from the treaty on anti-ballistic weapons systems. Mr Putin said Russia had stepped up military development in response to the 2002 U.S. withdrawal from the treaty on anti-ballistic weapons systems. 
“They thought we would never be able to recover economically, militarily, so ignored our complaints,” he said. "They didn't listen, but perhaps they will listen now."“They thought we would never be able to recover economically, militarily, so ignored our complaints,” he said. "They didn't listen, but perhaps they will listen now."
The reality of the confrontation was somewhat more nuanced, suggested Mr Sutyagin. American anti-missile shields were “never” intended for use against Russia, since everyone understood the sophistication of Soviet weapons, he said: “The Kremlin knows this too, so why the hysteria? Perhaps it has something to do with the huge losses sustained by Russian mercenaries in Syria last month."The reality of the confrontation was somewhat more nuanced, suggested Mr Sutyagin. American anti-missile shields were “never” intended for use against Russia, since everyone understood the sophistication of Soviet weapons, he said: “The Kremlin knows this too, so why the hysteria? Perhaps it has something to do with the huge losses sustained by Russian mercenaries in Syria last month."
For political commentator and former Kremlin advisor Gleb Pavlovsky, writing on social media, it was today, after an absent election campaign, that Mr Putin finally found his purpose. For political commentator and former Kremlin advisor Gleb Pavlovsky, writing on social media, it was today, after an absent election campaign, that Mr Putin finally found his purpose. 
"Only by telling everyone how he would destroy the world did the old man come alive,” he said. "Only by telling everyone how he would destroy the world did the old man come alive,” he said.