Weapons

Russia THREAT: How Putin’s ‘invincible' hypersonic nuke can strike ANYWHERE in minutes

The Avangard, also known as Objekt 4202, or Yu-71, is a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) that can be carried as a Multiple Independent Targeted Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) payload for nuclear weapons. It is one of six new Russian strategic weapons unveiled by President Putin in March 2018 and the technology will allow for missiles to travel at up to 20 Mach, approximately 25,000km per hour – 20 times the speed of sound. This means the Avangard, which will travel outside the atmosphere, will be capable of hitting anywhere in the world in under 30 minutes when it comes into production later this year.

Putin tested the weapon in December 2018, launching it from southwest Russia and successfully destroying a target 3,700 miles away.

The Russian President watched from the Defence Ministry's control room, describing it as “like a meteorite, like a fireball”.

He added: "The Avangard has fully passed through its test programme and will become operational on schedule. 

“The weapon has fully confirmed its specifications.