‘Faster than Mach 20, twenty times the speed of sound’: Putin boasts new hypersonic missiles guarantee parity with US
He made the comments during a live phone-in broadcast, after initially announcing the new arsenal in March
President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that a new hypersonic intercontinental missile would enter service next year and guarantee Russia maintains military parity with the United States.
He used a national televised call-in show to once again call attention to the modernisation of Russia’s strategic weapons, mentioning in particular the new “Avant-garde” missile capable of changing direction and altitude, which Putin said would make it unstoppable.
“Faster than Mach 20, twenty times the speed of sound,” said Putin. “I don’t think other countries will develop such a weapon in the coming years … we already have it.”
He said the missile was in production and would enter service next year.
Another hypersonic missile is already in service, said Putin.