Russia Tests Nuclear-Capable Mach 20 Hypersonic Missile Successfully, Overtaking US Capability

Russia upgraded its military arsenal further with the successful launch of a hypersonic missile capable of traveling at up to 20 times the speed of sound and gliding across the upper atmosphere. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the test was a "great success" and an "excellent New Year's gift to the nation."

He touted the nuclear-capable weapon, named Avangard, was nearly impossible to intercept and would ensure the country’s security for decades.

"The Avangard is invulnerable to intercept by any existing and prospective missile defense means of the potential adversary," Putin said after the test, adding the new weapon would enter service in 2019 with the military's Strategic Missile Forces.

He further emphasized no other country had hypersonic weapons. Putin attributed the development of Avangard to advances in the U.S. missile defense system that could erode Russia’s nuclear deterrent.

Pentagon has already been working on hypersonic missiles but has not achieved any solid outcome as yet. U.S. officials also expressed concerns about the agency's efforts in developing the missiles falling far behind in comparison to potential adversaries. Officials in Washington were also worried about the rise of maneuverable missiles that can strike their targets within seconds. Such weapons could destabilize parts of Europe and Asia, where a leader would have only a few seconds to decide how to respond to an attack.

The test of Avangard comes amidst a new low in ties between the U.S. and Russia, caused by numerous reasons — President Donald Trump’s intent to establish a permanent military base in Poland, the conflict in Ukraine, and new U.S. sanctions against Russia in response to allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential elections.

Putin has been threatening a new arms race amid fears in Russia the U.S. would not renew the New START treaty that limits the development of nuclear weapons by both countries and is due to expire in 2021. According to the Guardian, Trump’s current national security adviser John Bolton, a longstanding opponent of arms control treaties, was pushing for U.S. withdrawal from the treaty.

The U.S. says Russia was in violation of the INF agreement, because it developed and deployed a new cruise missile, an allegation Russia has denied. President Trump also announced the U.S. would exit the Cold War-era treaty that limits short- and intermediate-range nuclear weapons.