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Russia fears leak of hypersonic missile secrets to West | Russia fears leak of hypersonic missile secrets to West |
(35 minutes later) | |
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has raided a space research facility after a suspected leak of hypersonic missile secrets to Western spies. | Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has raided a space research facility after a suspected leak of hypersonic missile secrets to Western spies. |
The state space agency Roskosmos said its security staff were co-operating with FSB officers on a criminal case. | The state space agency Roskosmos said its security staff were co-operating with FSB officers on a criminal case. |
Russia's Kommersant daily says about 10 staff at a Roskosmos facility called TsNIIMash are under suspicion. A director's office was searched. | Russia's Kommersant daily says about 10 staff at a Roskosmos facility called TsNIIMash are under suspicion. A director's office was searched. |
Hypersonic missiles fly at more than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). | Hypersonic missiles fly at more than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). |
On Thursday Russia released video of two new hypersonic missile systems - called Kinzhal and Avangard. Both can deliver nuclear warheads. | |
The suspects in the secrets case could be charged with high treason, Kommersant reports. | |
"It was established that the leak came from TsNIIMash employees," a source close to the FSB investigation told the paper. | |
"A lot of heads will roll, and for sure this case won't end just with a few dismissals," the source said. | |
TsNIIMash is a top scientific subsidiary of Roskosmos. It is in the town of Korolyov, in the Moscow region. | |
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Russia's defence ministry has broadcast video of what it calls a new generation of nuclear-capable missiles. Some are launched by bombers, others are shown being launched from silos or mobile launch vehicles. | |
President Vladimir Putin spoke about the systems in March, including the Kinzhal missile, which can reach Mach 10 - about 12,000km/h (7,456mph) - with a range of 2,000km. | President Vladimir Putin spoke about the systems in March, including the Kinzhal missile, which can reach Mach 10 - about 12,000km/h (7,456mph) - with a range of 2,000km. |
The Kinzhal, already in service, is launched from MiG-31 or Tu-22M3 jets. Interfax news agency says Kinzhal-armed MiGs patrol over the Caspian Sea. | The Kinzhal, already in service, is launched from MiG-31 or Tu-22M3 jets. Interfax news agency says Kinzhal-armed MiGs patrol over the Caspian Sea. |
The FSB also searched offices at the United Rocket and Space Corporation (ORKK) in Moscow. | |
Kommersant says a state corporation called Tactical Missile Arms handles hypersonic projects, but TsNIIMash works very closely with it. | Kommersant says a state corporation called Tactical Missile Arms handles hypersonic projects, but TsNIIMash works very closely with it. |