Russian THREAT: How Putin’s ‘invincible' hypersonic nuke can strike ...

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.

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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.

Vladimir Putin and the AvangardVladimir Putin watched as the Avangard was tested (Image: GETTY)

The Avangard is a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) that can be carried as a Multiple Independent Targeted Re-entry VehicleThe Avangard is a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) that can be carried as a Multiple Independent Targe (Image: GETTY)

The Avangard has fully passed through its test program and will become operational on schedule

Vladimir Putin

“It is capable of manoeuvring horizontally and vertically at hypersonic speeds.”

This ability to change directions means the missile is much more difficult to intercept, with Putin even claiming it is “invincible”.

He later added: “The Avangard is invulnerable to intercept by any existing and prospective missile defence means of the potential adversary.” 

As it stands, US military experts offer a grim assessment of America's ability to intercept such a missile.

US Air Force General John E. Hyten admitted following the test: “We don’t have any defence that could deny the employment of such a weapon against us.”

The missile will be able to split outside the atmosphereThe missile will be able to split outside the atmosphere (Image: GETTY)

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