Russia’s new range of hi-tech weapons will keep country secure for decades to come, says Putin
VLADIMIR PUTIN says Russia’s new weapons have no foreign equivalents and will help ensure the country’s security for decades to come.
The Russian president, speaking during a meeting with military chiefs in Moscow, specifically mentioned the new Kinzhal hypersonic missile and the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, saying they have significantly bolstered Russia’s military capability.
Kinzhal has already been commissioned by the military. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu said aircraft carrying the missiles have flown 89 patrol missions this year.
Mr Shoigu said the Avangard will enter service next year.
Mr Putin said Moscow would have to respond to the planned US withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).
He reaffirmed a strong denial of Washington’s claim that Russia had violated the pact, and blamed the US for breaking it.
Mr Putin also rejected the US claim that Russia had developed a new cruise missile in violation of the INF, arguing that Moscow has no need for such a land-based weapon because it already has similar missiles on its ships and aircraft.
Washington warned this month it would suspend its obligations under the INF in 60 days if Russia did not return to full compliance. The US claims the 9M729 cruise missile breaches the INF, which bans all land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 300 to 3,400 miles.
Mr Putin said the Russian military has successfully tested air-launched Kh-101 and sealaunched Kalibr cruise missiles with a range of 2,790 miles in combat in Syria.
“It has probably made our partners worry, but it doesn’t violate the INF treaty,” Mr Putin said.
He said the treaty signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev did not limit sea and airlaunched cruise missiles, which the Soviet Union did not have at the time and the US did in significant numbers.
The Russian president argued that the pact represented “unilateral disarmament” for the Soviet Union.