Putin boasts of new Russian nuclear weapons

Above, Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address in Moscow on Thursday, March 1. Putin said that the nuclear-powered cruise missile tested last fall has an unlimited range and high speed and is capable of penetrating any missile defense. (AP)

MOSCOW: Russia has tested an array of new strategic nuclear weapons that can not be intercepted, President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday, marking a technological breakthrough that would dramatically increase Russia鈥檚 military capability and boost the Kremlin鈥檚 global position.
Speaking in a state-of-the-nation speech, Putin said the weapons include a nuclear-powered cruise missile, a nuclear-powered underwater drone and new hypersonic missile. He said the creation of the new weapons has made NATO鈥檚 US-led missile defense 鈥渦seless,鈥� and means an effective end to what he described as Western efforts to stymie Russia鈥檚 development.
鈥淚 want to tell all those who have fueled the arms race over the last 15 years, sought to win unilateral advantages over Russia, introduced unlawful sanctions aimed to contain our country鈥檚 development: All what you wanted to impede with your policies have already happened,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have failed to contain Russia.鈥�
The announcement comes as Putin is set to easily win another six-year presidential term in the March 18 election.
He said that the nuclear-powered cruise missile tested last fall has an unlimited range and high speed and maneuverability allowing it to pierce any missile defense.
The Russian leader said the high-speed underwater drone also has an 鈥渋ntercontinental鈥� range and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that could target both aircraft carriers and coastal facilities. He said its operational depth and high speed would make it immune to enemy intercept.
He added to applause that names for the nuclear-powered cruise missile and the drone have not yet been chosen, and suggested that the Defense Ministry run a nationwide contest for the best names.
Putin accompanied his statement to an audience of hundreds of senior officials and lawmakers with videos and computer images of new weapons, which were shown on giant screens at a conference hall near the Kremlin.
鈥淣o one in the world has anything like that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t may appear someday, but by that time we will develop something new.鈥�
The Russian leader said that another new weapon called Avangard is an intercontinental hypersonic missile that would fly to targets at a speed 20 times the speed of sound and strike 鈥渓ike a meteorite, like a fireball.鈥�
Putin said that Russia also tested a new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, called Sarmat, with a range and number of warheads exceeding its Soviet-era predecessor, known in the West as Satan.
The Russian leader emphasized that the development of new weapons that have no equivalent in the West came in response to the US withdrawal from a Cold war-era treaty banning missile defenses and US efforts to develop a missile defense system.
He said that the US has ignored Russian complaints.
鈥淣o one has listened to us,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou listen to us now.鈥�
He said the new weapons will help ensure global stability and draw a line under attempts to weaken Russia.
He said that another weapons system, called Kinzhal, already has been deployed in Russia鈥檚 Southern Military District. He said it is a hypersonic missile carried by an aircraft that can strike targets 2,000 km away.