Key Points – Russia’s hypersonic arsenal, frequently touted by Vladimir Putin as a series of invulnerable “super weapons,” includes several distinct platforms.
-The most formidable is the Avangard, a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) with speeds plausibly reaching Mach 20.
-Other key systems are the new Mach 11 Oreshnik ballistic missile, the naval Zirkon cruise missile which uses a “plasma cloud” for stealth, and the air-launched Kinzhal ballistic missile.
-However, the Kinzhal’s reputation has been tarnished by successful intercepts by Ukrainian air defenses, suggesting that while Russia is a leader in hypersonic technology, its claims of invincibility are often overstated.
Russia’s Hypersonic Arsenal: Deconstructing Putin’s ‘Super Weapons’
Russian President Vladimir Putin frequently touts his nation’s “super weapons,” particularly its hypersonic missiles, as evidence of military supremacy.
These advanced projectiles, capable of flying at over Mach 5 (nearly a mile per second) while maneuvering in flight, present a formidable challenge to existing missile defense systems.
While some of Putin’s claims can be viewed as hyperbolic, there is substance to his assertions.
Russia is indeed a global leader in hypersonic technology, and in some areas, it is outpacing the United States military in development.
Oreshnik: The ‘Hazel Tree’ with Nuclear Reach
Russia’s most recent addition to its hypersonic arsenal is the Oreshnik, a name that translates to “hazel tree,” belying the weapon’s immense speed and power.
The missile saw its first combat use last November when it was fired from Russia’s Astrakhan region against the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, some 770 miles away.
While its impact was limited to damaging a few buildings and causing minor injuries, its performance was alarming.
What has analysts concerned is the missile’s velocity. Ukrainian intelligence said on Telegram that the Oreshnik reached speeds of Mach 11, or over 8,000 miles per hour, making it one of the world’s most significant hypersonic weapons.
Furthermore, the missile is nuclear-capable, a fact Putin quickly highlighted. U.S. officials believe the Oreshnik is derived from the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM, indicating it was not developed entirely from scratch.
With a range estimated at 3,000 miles, it places many European cities within striking distance.
Kinzhal: A ‘Dagger’ with a Questionable Edge
As the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs outlines, another key system is the Kinzhal or “dagger.” It is an air-launched ballistic missile, typically deployed from Tu-22M3 bombers and MiG-31 fighter jets, and is based on the ground-based Iskander-M missile.
The Kinzhal can reach speeds between Mach 4 and Mach 10 and can function as both a land-attack and anti-ship weapon, posing a potential threat to high-value targets like NATO aircraft carriers.
The missile has a range of approximately 1,200 miles and carries a 1,000-pound payload, which can be conventional or nuclear.
After successful tests in 2017, MiG-31s were modified to carry it. However, some experts question its credentials as a true hypersonic weapon, noting it is not a pure hypersonic glide vehicle.
Its reputation has been tarnished by repeated successful intercepts by Ukrainian air defenses, suggesting Putin may be overstating its effectiveness.
Zirkon: A Naval Threat Cloaked in Plasma
The Russian Navy has its own hypersonic cruise missile, the Zirkon. Capable of reaching Mach 9 and being launched from ships and submarines, the Zirkon presents a significant challenge to NATO naval forces.
With a range of about 621 miles and a dual-capability for striking land and sea targets, its speed makes it difficult to defend against. The Zircon was tested from a Russian vessel in the Mediterranean Sea last December and was also used against Kyiv in 2024.
Guided by an active and passive radar seeker, the Zirkon is a “two-stage missile that uses solid fuel in the first stage and a scramjet motor in the second stage,” according to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. It features a unique stealth capability: a plasma cloud that forms around the missile in flight, which is said to “absorb any rays of radio frequencies and makes the missile invisible to radars.”
Avangard: Russia’s Premier Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
Perhaps the most formidable weapon in Russia’s hypersonic inventory is the Avangard. This is a true hypersonic boost-glide vehicle, launched from an ICBM. While Russian claims of speeds up to Mach 27 seem overly optimistic, a velocity of Mach 20 is considered plausible.
The Avangard can be deployed by SS-18 Satan and SS-19 Stiletto ICBMs, with future integration planned for the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM. A nuclear-tipped Avangard can carry a two-megaton warhead and has a range exceeding 3,700 miles. With 14 flight tests conducted between 1990 and 2018, as CSIS reported, the Avangard is truly one of Putin’s prized strategic assets.
Hype vs. Reality and US Countermeasures
While Russia has made significant progress in its hypersonic programs, it is clear that a great deal of hype surrounds these weapons. They are not immune to interception, as the Kinzhal’s performance in Ukraine has shown.
The Avangard appears to be Russia’s most credible hypersonic threat, while the Kinzhal may be the least effective. Nevertheless, Russia will undoubtedly continue to refine these systems to match Putin’s rhetoric.
In response, U.S. intelligence is working to gather details on these developments. Future U.S. defense initiatives, such as the proposed U.S. Golden Dome missile shield, are being designed with the Russian hypersonic threat in mind.
The potential use of space-based lasers and interceptors launched from low-earth orbit could provide a credible defense against these next-generation weapons.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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