"A new type of strategic weapon": Putin spoke about the creation of the Avangard hypersonic complex

Russia possesses the most modern types of weapons, many times superior in their characteristics to the development of other countries, said Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with the honorary general director of the military-industrial complex NPO Mashinostroyenia Herbert Efremov.

“I have repeatedly said that for decades we have constantly had to be in the role of catch-up.

You know this very well.

This concerned atomic, nuclear weapons, then long-range strategic aviation, and then intercontinental missile technology, that is, what experts call delivery vehicles, ”Putin said.

The President noted that this situation put the country in a difficult and even dangerous position.

As Putin pointed out, at certain moments Russia was threatened, "but there was nothing to answer."

However, the situation has now changed.

“For the first time in our modern history, Russia possesses the most modern types of weapons, which are many times superior in strength, power, speed, which is very important, in accuracy of all that existed and exist today.

No one in the world has such a weapon, at least not yet, ”the President stressed.

The President congratulated Efremov, an outstanding designer of rocket and rocket and space technology, on the Day of the gunsmith.

Putin also awarded the specialist with the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called with swords for his outstanding services in the development of the rocket and space industry and strengthening the country's defense capability.

The head of state noted that it was Efremov who was the author of the idea, which was later embodied in the Avangard hypersonic complex.

Putin singled out this system from a number of other advanced developments of the Russian military-industrial complex, calling the Avangard "a new type of strategic weapon."

The head of state recalled that Russia was forced to start work on hypersonic weapons after the US withdrawn from the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems.

Recall that under the terms of this agreement, concluded in 1972 between the United States and the USSR, the parties pledged to limit the creation and deployment of sea, air, space and mobile-land-based missile defense systems.

In December 2001, the administration of George W. Bush announced the withdrawal of the United States from the treaty, but it operated for another six months - until June 2002.

“The withdrawal of the United States of America from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 forced Russia to start developing hypersonic weapons.

We had to create these weapons in response to the deployment of the US strategic missile defense system, which in the long term would be able to actually neutralize, nullify all our nuclear potential, ”the President said.

Putin added that thanks to the work of German Efremov and his colleagues, this was avoided.

“And in this regard, in 2004 we launched a large-scale work to implement your ideas, which, by the way, publicly warned everyone, I spoke about it publicly.

Apparently, then no one believed us, they thought that we would not be able to do this, ”the president continued.

As the head of state noted, in December 2018, a final launch was carried out, marking the end of the tests.

"Since December 2019, as you know, the first regiment of strategic missiles equipped with the Avangard system has been put on alert," Putin turned to Efremov.

Let us remind you that Avangard is a strategic complex with an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The technologies used in this system make it possible to fly in dense layers of the atmosphere at hypersonic speed.

At the same time, the winged unit retains the ability to maneuver.

The creation of this complex and its characteristics were first announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2018.

In his message to the Federal Assembly, he said that when working on Avangard, the latest composite materials were used that can withstand high temperatures.

As the president explained then, this winged unit moves towards the target, "like a meteorite, a fireball," and carries out deep maneuvering, which makes it absolutely invulnerable to any means of air and missile defense.

We add that, in addition to Avangard, Putin also mentioned in that speech about the creation of the Kinzhal and Sarmat missile systems, the Poseidon marine robotic system, the Petrel cruise missile and the Peresvet laser complex.

The first missile system with a hypersonic unit "Avangard" went on alert on December 27, 2019, about which Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the head of state.