"Evolving into Hypersonic Weapons in the Future"
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that "work has begun on the development of a next-generation nuclear-powered cruise missile," according to a report by TASS on November 5 (local time).
President Putin made this statement while awarding commendations to the developers of the new nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile "Burevestnik" and the nuclear-powered underwater drone "Poseidon" the previous day. He said, "Their speed reaches three times the speed of sound, and they will evolve into hypersonic weapons in the future."
According to Reuters, at the same event, he highly praised the performance of both weapons and claimed that the compact nuclear technology applied to Burevestnik and Poseidon "will also be useful for constructing bases in the Arctic, in space, and on the Moon."
President Putin had previously announced last week that test launches of both weapons had been successfully conducted. Russia asserts that Burevestnik can be equipped with a nuclear warhead and, powered by nuclear propulsion, is capable of long-duration low-altitude flight, making it impossible to intercept with existing missile defense systems. The country also emphasized that Poseidon can travel at speeds faster than any existing surface vessel.
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