President Vladimir Putin despatched a frigate to the Atlantic Ocean armed with new technology hypersonic cruise missiles on Wednesday, a sign to the West that Russia won’t again down over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia, China and the United States are in a race to develop hypersonic weapons that are seen as a means to acquire an edge over any adversary due to their speeds – above 5 occasions the velocity of sound – and manoeuvrability.

In a video convention with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Igor Krokhmal, commander of the frigate named ”Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov”, Putin mentioned the ship was armed with Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic weapons.

”This time the ship is supplied with the most recent hypersonic missile system – ’Zircon’,” mentioned Putin. ”I’m certain that such highly effective weapons will reliably defend Russia from potential exterior threats.”

The weapons, Putin mentioned, had ”no analogues in any nation on the planet”.

More than 10 months since Putin despatched troops into Ukraine, there is no such thing as a finish in sight to the conflict which has descended right into a grinding winter artillery battle that has killed and wounded tens of 1000’s of troopers on each side.

Russia has additionally used hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles in Ukraine.

Along with the Avangard hypersonic glide car which entered fight responsibility in 2019, the Zircon types the centrepiece of Russia’s hypersonic arsenal.

Russia sees the weapons as a means to pierce more and more subtle U.S. missile defences which Putin has warned might someday shoot down Russian nuclear missiles.

ATLANTIC VOYAGE

Shoigu mentioned the Gorshkov would sail to the Atlantic and Indian oceans and to the Mediterranean Sea.

”This ship, armed with ’Zircons’, is able to delivering pinpoint and highly effective strikes towards the enemy at sea and on land,” Shoigu mentioned.

Shoigu mentioned the hypersonic missiles might overcome any missile defence system. The missiles fly at 9 occasions the velocity of sound and have a variety of over 1,000 km, Shoigu mentioned.

The important duties of the voyage have been to counter threats to Russia and to keep ”regional peace and stability collectively with pleasant international locations”, Shoigu mentioned.

A U.S. Congressional Research Service report on hypersonic weapons says that Russian and Chinese hypersonic missiles are designed to be used with nuclear warheads.

The goal of a hypersonic weapon is far more tough to calculate than for intercontinental ballistic missiles due to their manoeuvrability.

Beyond Russia, the United States and China, a variety of different international locations are creating hypersonic weapons together with Australia, France, Germany, South Korea, North Korea and Japan, in accordance to the U.S. Congressional Research Service.

Read all of the Latest News right here

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)