Russia plans for hypersonic nuclear missiles by 2020
Dr. Abdul Ruff
The Cold War threatening word peace had in 1980s subsided after the unification of Germanies and the fall of mighty USSR leading to perestroika era, leaving the world some breathing space for years following the historic step by Russia and USA led by their respective presidents Gorbachev and Reagan in 1981, seems have resurfaced in recent times with USA seeking to get all former Soviet republics into the dreaded NATtO military organization. Russia has obvious reasons to feel threatened by the US move of cornering and containing the Kremlin by using these former republics.
US-Russia nuclear rivalry continues to threaten world peace and upsets regional strategic balances. Russia has repeatedly expressed concern that America’s missile defense systems threaten its strategic nuclear forces. In order to face the impending US-NATO danger Moscow upgrading its security postures. Now Russian president is planning to commission high precision hypersonic missiles. Obviously, Moscow would like to equip its hypersonic missiles with nuclear warheads.
Jane’s Intelligence Review published a report revealing that Russia secretly tested its Yu-71 hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) from an SS-19 missile in February of this year. And, according to a new report, Russia plans to build 24 nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles over the next decade to protect its territories and people from enemy attacks. A test launch from the Dombarovsky missile division site in February 2015 suggests that Russia is actively pursuing the development of a hypersonic glide vehicle that could potentially expand the long-range strike capabilities of its Strategic Rocket Forces,
The report indicates that by the time Russia’s Yu-71 hypersonic missile enters into service, Moscow may also have its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile to launch it from. The Sarmat is a liquid-fuel ICBM that is able to carry multiple warheads. It suspects that PAK-DA, the next-generation strategic bomber Russia is currently developing, will also be able to fire hypersonic missiles. That being said, the tremendous speed of hypersonic missiles makes them better suited for land-based missiles.
Russia appears to be considering the option of deploying its hypersonic system in a nuclear, as well as conventional, configuration. Unlike America’s conventional global prompt strike (CGPS) program, Russia is developing its hypersonic missiles with nuclear warheads in mind. Along with countries like China and the United States, Russia’s been developing hypersonic missiles in recent years under its Project 4202. The Yu-71 missile is expected to reach 11,200 kilometers per hour (7,000 miles per hour) and is extremely maneuverable. The maneuverability of hypersonic missiles allows the projectiles to skirt most missile defense systems, which are aimed at targeting the predictable trajectories of ballistic missiles.
Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over NATO encirclement of Russia and that NATO missile defense systems threaten its strategic nuclear forces. As such, it makes sense that Moscow would equip its hypersonic missiles with nuclear warheads, maybe even before 2020 – its own deadline for the commissioning of the ultra precision missiles.
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