Russia on Track to Developing New Hypersonic Weapons: Putin

by Sputnik [10-2-2025].

Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday, the president touched on the expanding capabilities of Russia's strategic deterrent.

"We have fielded other hypersonic weapons - the Kinzhal and the Avangard, a weapon with an intercontinental range. We may acquire other systems as well. We haven't forgotten anything from our plans. Work is ongoing, and there will be results," Putin said.

Russia is confident in its nuclear deterrent, and has more tactical systems than the US, Putin added. "The Americans have more submarines. But the number of warheads on these submarines is roughly the same."

"We know that there are people in the US who say 'we don't need any extension' [of the New START agreement, ed]. If they don't need it, neither do we. Overall, we're doing fine. We're confident in our nuclear shield. We know what to do tomorrow and the day after that," Putin said.

"The level of modernization" of Russia's arsenal is "higher than any other nuclear power in the world," Putin said. "We simply worked on this intensively and over a long time. I repeat: our strategic forces have a very high level of of modernization."

Putin said dialogue with the US on extending New START won't be easy, and that Moscow knows about the "pitfalls" accompanying it.

The arsenals of NATO allies France and the UK cannot be ignored in negotiations, for example, especially in light of France's plans to extend its nuclear umbrella over Europe, according to the Russian president.

Putin also warned that Moscow knows about "someone's" preparations to carry out nuclear tests, emphasizing that if these transpire, Russia will do the same.

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