RUSSIA has confirmed it now has hyper-sonic weapons in its arsenal – with missiles capable of reaching more than 6,000 mph.
Vladimir Putin’s defense bosses confirmed “as of today” its military has weapons which we can supposedly fly up to eight times of the speed of sound.
Hypersonic weapons are the at the centre of the next arms race between the US, China and Russia.
And it appears Moscow have taken an early lead as they boast the weapons can beat NATO missile interceptors.
GETTY/ILDUS GILYAZUTDINOVRUSSIA: Vladimir Putin’s defense ministry are testing a 6,000 mph missile called the Zircon
It is designed to blast enemy ships out of the water and is capable of flying 250 miles at speeds of up to 6,138mph.
Chillingly, current Royal Navy missile interceptors are only capable of shooting down missiles hurtling towards them at speeds of Mach 3.
SGZIRCON: An artist’s impression of the hypersonic cruise missile designed to blow up warships.
GETTYVLADIMIR PUTIN: Russia’s hardman leader will be keeping a close eye on weapons development
Moscow has been investing billions as its looks to bring Russia back to the world stage as a military superpower on par with NATO.
Scientists have previously warned Russia is up to 15 years ahead in the new hyper-sonic arms race.
Putin has earmarked the weapons to be equipped on his two battle cruisers the Admiral Nakhimov and Pyotr Velikiy.
GETTYNUCLEAR WAR: Russia has been upgrading its missiles forces to square up to NATO
China also revealed hypersonic weapons this week – boasting their new nuclear ICBM can reach speeds close to 20,000 mph.
US Air Force Chief of Staff General David L. Goldfein said earlier this year: “Our adversaries aren’t standing still. They are looking for every advantage they can get.”
Hyper-sonic aircraft and missiles are expected to become the norm by the 2030s.
[Disclaimer]
