In a move escalating global military tensions, Russia has positioned an intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with the "Avangard" hypersonic glide vehicle into a launch silo, as per a recent broadcast by the Russian defense ministry's TV channel 'Zvezda'. This development follows President Vladimir Putin's 2018 announcement of the Avangard system, a strategic response to advancements in U.S. weapons technology and missile defenses.
The Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, capable of reaching speeds up to 27 times the speed of sound (around 21,000 miles per hour or 34,000 kilometers per hour), can sharply maneuver outside a rocket's trajectory as it nears its target. The recent footage showed the missile being transported to and installed in a launch silo in the Orenburg region, close to Kazakhstan. This is the same location where Russia deployed its first Avangard-equipped missile in 2019.
The development comes amid the disintegration of arms-control treaties and heightened activities in new weapons systems, including hypersonics, by the U.S., Russia, and China. The United States perceives China as a significant competitor and Russia as a substantial nation-state threat. Simultaneously, Russia criticizes the U.S. for disrupting global order and disregarding other nations' interests.
The Avangard missile, reportedly capable of reaching speeds of 20,000 mph, is designed to exit the Earth's atmosphere and strike any global target within 30 minutes. Video footage shows the missile being loaded onto a transporter and then being led by a column of armed vehicles to a launch site. The missile is raised to an upright position before being launched.
Putin has claimed that the Avangard strikes "like a meteorite" and is unstoppable by any current defense system. Russian media reports state that the infrastructure in the Orenburg region has been prepared for the deployment of more missile regiments on combat duty, including facilities for personnel and operational maintenance.
This news comes amidst reports of unsuccessful tests of other Russian nuclear-capable missiles. Ukrainian intelligence claimed that tests of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile and the RSM-56 Bulava ballistic missile from a submarine were unsuccessful, highlighting potential reliability issues.
The introduction of Avangard into Russia's arsenal and the continued testing and development of advanced weapons systems by major global powers underscore a critical period in international military dynamics and arms control. The deployment of such high-speed and maneuverable weapons systems could significantly alter the strategic balance and pose new challenges for global security and diplomacy.
