Russia Loads Nuclear-Capable "Avangard" Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Into A Launch Silo In Southern Russia

An intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with the nuclear-capable "Avangard" hypersonic glide vehicle is lifted to its launch silo in Orenburg region, Russia, in this image taken from a video released on November 16, 2023. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS 

Reuters: Russia Loads Missile With Nuclear-Capable Glide Vehicle Into Launch Silo 

MOSCOW, (Reuters) -Russia's rocket forces loaded an intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with the nuclear-capable "Avangard" hypersonic glide vehicle into a launch silo in southern Russia, according to a defence ministry TV channel broadcast on Thursday. 

President Vladimir Putin announced the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle in 2018, saying it was a response to U.S. development of a new generation of weapons and a U.S. missile defence system that it could penetrate.  

Read more .... 

 Russia Loads Nuclear-Capable "Avangard" Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Into A Launch Silo In Southern Russia  

Putin prepares new 20,000mph 'meteorite' hypersonic nuclear missile Avangard designed to speed into space before striking multiple targets around the world in minutes -- Daily Mail  

Putin's terrifying 'meteorite' hypersonic nuclear missile that takes just 30mins to strike -- Express  

Russia loaded a nuke-Avangard missile into the Orenburg silo -- Bulgarian Military  

ANALYSIS: Russia Demonstrates Avangard Hypersonic Missile – Here’s What You Need to Know -- Kyiv Post

New Russian Nuclear Submarine Test Launches A Bulava Intercontinental Missile

 

RT: Russian ballistic missile hits target thousands of kilometers away (VIDEO) 

A Bulava ICBM has successfully reached Kamchatka after being launched from the White Sea, the Defense Ministry has said 

A Russian nuclear-powered submarine has conducted a ballistic missile test, with the projectile traveling several thousand kilometers from the northern to the easternmost part of the country, the Defense Ministry has said.

In a statement in the early hours of Sunday, the ministry said that the submarine ‘Emperor Alexander III’ had “successfully launched the Bulava sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile from the White Sea to the Kura test range on the Kamchatka Peninsula.” It added that the missile was fired underwater and that its warheads reached the target on time.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Ukraine is claiming that these missile tests failed .... Putin's rockets are wonky, Ukraine claims: Russia's nuclear-capable intercontinental missile 'went off course' (Daily Mail). More here .... Russia conducts unsuccessful tests of nuclear weapons carriers (Ukrainska Pravda). 

New Russian Nuclear Submarine Test Launches A Bulava Intercontinental Missile  

Russia says it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile from a new nuclear submarine -- AP  

Russian nuclear submarine test launches Bulava intercontinental missile -- Reuters  

Russia test-launches nuclear-capable missile from new submarine -- FOX News 

Russian submarine completes ballistic missile test firing -- TASS  

Russia Achieves Nuclear Supremacy, Top Security Official Announces Historic Milestone -- Sputnik

Did Russia Conduct A Failed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Test When President Biden Was In Ukraine ?

 

CNN: US believes Russia had failed intercontinental ballistic missile test around when Biden was in Ukraine 

Russia carried out a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that appears to have failed around the time President Joe Biden was in Ukraine, according to two US officials familiar with the matter. 

Russia notified the United States in advance of the launch through deconfliction lines under its New START treaty obligations, one official said, adding that “such testing is routine.” Another official said that the test did not pose a risk to the United States and that the US did not view the test as an anomaly or an escalation. 

The test of the heavy SARMAT missile – nicknamed the Satan II in the West and capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads – appears to have failed, officials said. It has been successfully tested before and had this one worked, US officials believe Russia President Vladimir Putin would have highlighted the test in his State of the Nation address on Tuesday. n Pr  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Russia Tested Nuclear Capable Missile During Biden’s Ukraine Trip – CNN (Moscow Times) 

Update #2: Russia's 'Satan 2' Sarmat missile can carry more than a dozen nuclear warheads and destroy entire cities - if it ever works (IBTimes)  

WNU Editor: This blog follows U.S. and Russian missile tests very closely. A few weeks ago the Russian Ministry of Defense did announce that a Russian missile test was slated between February 12 - February 25. But no mention on the type of missile that was gong to be tested, or the exact date. 

So was a missile test conducted when President Biden was in Ukraine with his nuclear football .... a test that would definitely result in US nuclear alerts being raised around the world and the rest of us not knowing about it? I doubt it.

Russia Tests Hypersonic Missile In The Arctic

FILE PHOTO: A MiG-31 Foxhound fighter-interceptor with the Kinzhal high-precision hypersonic aero-ballistic missile. © Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev

RT: Cold steel: Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic missile ‘completes its first ARCTIC test’

Russia’s new Kinzhal (‘Dagger’) air-launched hypersonic missile has been tested in freezing Arctic conditions. It successfully struck a land-based target in what was the maiden test of its kind, defense industry sources said.

The top-secret trials took place in mid-November at the Pemboi range in the north-western Komi Republic, one of the sources told TASS. The Russian region stretches beyond the Arctic Circle.

The missile was fired from a MiG-31K supersonic interceptor aircraft, which NATO calls ‘Foxhound.’ Kinzhal “reached the speed of Mach 10 (over 12,000kph),” another unnamed official told the agency.

Read more ....

Update: Russia tests hypersonic missile in Arctic - TASS cites sources (Reuters)

WNU Editor: Russia is also testing (and ready to deploy) this hyper-sonic missile system .... Russia’s Avangard hypersonic missile system to go on combat alert in December — top brass (TASS). More here .... Nuclear Nightmare? Russia’s Avangard Hypersonic Missile Is About to Go Operational(National Interest).

Russia’s Pacific Fleet Fires Oniks Supersonic Cruise Missile From Coast For First Time

RT: Did you see that one, Alaska? Russia’s Pacific Fleet fires Oniks supersonic cruise missile from coast for first time

A coastal defence system deployed in Russia’s Far East has for the first time fired the Oniks cruise missile, developed to pierce the anti-missile capabilities of US Navy warships.

Oniks has a ramjet engine capable of boosting its speed to Mach 2, making it difficult to intercept, and has a range of up to 600km (373 miles). The anti-ship weapon is usually deployed on Russian Navy ships, but can also be fired by the mobile launchers of the Bastion coastal defense system.

Read more .....

Update: Watch Russian Oniks Missile Be Launched For First Time in Russian Far East (Sputnik)

 WNU Editor: The Far East is becoming more and more important to Russia.

Russia Is Looking For A Nuclear-Powered Missile That Was Lost At Sea Last Year

CNBC: Russia is preparing to search for a nuclear-powered missile that was lost at sea months ago after a failed test

* Moscow is preparing to recover a nuclear-powered missile lost at sea, according to sources with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report.
* Russian President Vladimir Putin bragged earlier this year that the new missile had unlimited range.
* The missile was tested four times between November and February, each resulting in a crash, according to sources who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity.

A nuclear-powered Russian missile remains lost at sea after a failed test late last year, and Moscow is preparing to try to recover it, according to people with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report.

Crews will attempt to recover a missile that was test launched in November and landed in the Barents Sea, which is located north of Norway and Russia. The operation will include three vessels, one of which is equipped to handle radioactive material from the weapon's nuclear core. There is no timeline for the mission, according to the people with knowledge of the report.

Read more ....

Update #1: Russia Is Hunting For Its Crashed Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile And The U.S. Might Be Too (Warzone/The Drive)
Update #2: Putin lost his supposedly ‘invulnerable’ nuclear-powered missile at sea — now he has to go find it (Business Insider)

WNU Editor: A nuclear-powered missile? I am sure it is leaking radioactive material onto the sea bed.

Report: Russia's Newest Nuclear Missile Has Failed In Numerous Test Flights

YouTube

CNBC: Putin claimed a new nuclear-powered missile had unlimited range — but it flew only 22 miles in its most successful test yet

* Russian President Vladimir Putin bragged that a new nuclear-powered missile had unlimited range, but it has yet to perform a successful test, according to sources with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report on the weapons program.
* The cruise missile was tested four times between November 2017 and February 2018, each resulting in a crash.
* The U.S. assessed that the longest test flight lasted just more than two minutes, with the missile flying 22 miles before losing control and crashing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin bragged earlier this year that his country had a new nuclear-powered missile with unlimited range — but it has yet to perform a successful test over multiple attempts, according to sources with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report on the weapons program.

The cruise missile was tested four times between November and February, each resulting in a crash, according to sources who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity.

The U.S. assessed that the longest test flight lasted just more than two minutes, with the missile flying 22 miles before losing control and crashing. The shortest test lasted four seconds and flew for five miles.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Kremlin is denying these reports .... Kremlin spokesman dismisses US media allegations on Russian arms, says ‘trust Putin’ (TASS). More denials here .... Russia Says New Missile Tests Did Not Fail, ‘Trust’ Putin Not U.S. Media (Newsweek).

More News On Reports That Russia's Newest Nuclear Missile Has Failed In Numerous Test Flights

Russia’s New Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile Failed in Tests, U.S. Media Report -- Moscow Times
Russia's 'practically unlimited' -range missile looks like an embarrassment after it reportedly lasted for just 2 minutes and 22 miles -- Business Insider
Putin’s nucler-powered cruise-missiles can’t fly -- News.com.au
Report: Putin’s New Missile With ‘Unlimited Range’ Crashed After 22 Miles -- Washington Free Beacon

Russia Test-Firess Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missiles

TASS: Putin test-fires ballistic missiles in strategic nuclear force command and control drills

Three intercontinental ballistic missiles were launched from the nuclear-powered submarines while one missile was test-fired from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in north Russia

MOSCOW, October 27. /TASS/. Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Russia’s Armed Forces Vladimir Putin took part on Thursday night in strategic nuclear forces command and control drills, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

"The exercise practiced interaction of the Strategic Missile Force, nuclear-powered submarines of the Northern and Pacific Fleets and long-range aviation of Russia’s Aerospace Force," the spokesman said.

"The supreme commander-in-chief made launches of four ballistic missiles," Peskov said.

Read more ....

More News On Russia Tests Its Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missiles

Russia test-fires 'Topol' ICBM with new advanced warhead -- RT
Putin personally launches four ballistic missiles: Kremlin -- USA TODAY
Putin personally directed launch of ballistic missiles -- New York Post
Putin personally launches 4 missiles in Russian military drill -- UPI
Vladimir Putin Launches Four Ballistic Missiles in Nuclear Forces Drill Across Russia -- Newsweek
Putin himself just test-launched a nuclear-capable missile designed to beat US defenses -- Business Insider

NYT: Russia Has Secretly Deployed Cruise Missiles in Violation Of Previous Arms Control Treaties

Boston Globe/New York Times: Russian Cruise Missile, Deployed Secretly, Violates Treaty, Officials Say

WASHINGTON — Russia has secretly deployed a new cruise missile despite complaints from American officials that it violates a landmark arms control treaty that helped seal the end of the Cold War, administration officials say.

The move presents a major challenge for President Trump, who has vowed to improve relations with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and to pursue future arms accords.

The new Russian missile deployment also comes as the Trump administration is struggling to fill key policy positions at the State Department and the Pentagon — and to settle on a permanent replacement for Michael T. Flynn, the national security adviser who resigned late Monday. Mr. Flynn stepped down after it was revealed that he had misled the vice president and other officials over conversations with Moscow’s ambassador to Washington.

Read more ....

More News On Reports That Russia Has Secretly Deployed Cruise Missiles in Violation Of Previous Arms Control Treaties

Russia deploys cruise missile in violation of arms treaty: report -- The Hill
U.S. believes Russia deployed new missile in treaty violation: NYT -- Reuters
Report: Russian missile deployment violates treaty -- USA Today
Russia secretly deploys cruise missiles violating arms control treaty, say US officials -- The Independent
Russia secretly deploys new cruise missile despite US complaints it violates 30-year-old arms control treaty -- Daily Mail
Russia secretly deployed nuclear cruise missiles that violate a treaty with the US -- Business Insider

A Look At Why The Russian Islandar Missile Is An Effective Weapon (Video)

RT: Bunker reduced to smoking hole from 200km: Russia shows Iskander missile launch (VIDEO)

The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video of the Iskander-M tactical missile launcher test-firing a cruise rocket.

The footage was shot during an exercise at the Kapustin Yar rocket test range in the Astrakhan region on Friday last week, the ministry said in a statement.

“The site of a simulated underground enemy command point, located some 200km from the launch position, was turned into a smoking hole,” the ministry said, describing the result of the strike shown on the video.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: That is one big hole in the ground.

Russian General For Strategic Missiles: 'New Weapons Will Neutralize U.S. Missile Shield'

© Sergey Kazak / RIA Novosti

RT: US missile shield unable to repel massive Russian ICBM attack – chief of strategic missile forces

The existing US missile shield is incapable of withstanding a massive strike of Russian nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), the commander of Russia’s Strategic Missile Troops told a press conference.

The analysis of Russian military experts has found that “neither the firepower potential, nor the data computing capacity of the currently deployed US missile defense” installations could deal with a swarm attack of the Russian nuclear triad, Strategic Missile Troops Commander, Colonel General Sergey Karakaev, told journalists Wednesday.

More News On Russia Claiming To have new Weapons that can Breach The U.S. Missile Defense Shield

Russian general says new weapons will 'neutralize' US shield -- AP
Russia says can breach U.S. missile defense shield - RIA -- Reuters
Russian weapons can neutralize US missile system: General -- Press TV
Russia Says Its Missiles Can Penetrate U.S. Missile Defense -- RFE

Russia New Cruise Missile Gives It A Global And Stealthy Aerial Strike Capability

David Axe, Daily Beast: Putin Blasts Syria With New Stealth Missile—and Shows the World He Can Strike From 1,700 Miles Away

It wasn’t that long ago that the U.S. Air Force seemed to be the only one capable of attacking from half a continent away. Then came Russia’s ‘anti-ISIS’ strikes.

Russia apparently deployed for the first time a new, radar-evading cruise missile during its massive Nov. 17 heavy bomber raid on Syria.

The Kh-101 long-range cruise missile, which reportedly packs an 800-pound warhead and can fly no less than 1,700 miles under satellite guidance, has been in development by Russia’s cash-strapped aerospace industry for three decades. Now that it’s apparently combat-ready, Moscow can claim to possess a global strike capability that before, only the United States possessed.

Russia’s mid-November bomber raid startled observers at least as much as did Moscow’s initial deployment of warplanes to Syria in late September and its subsequent barrage of sea-launched cruise missiles at rebel forces in October.

WNU Editor: If these reports are true it would mean that Russia now has a global—and stealthy—aerial strike capability. The U.S. is the only other country that has this ability .... a monopoly that it appears it no longer has.

Topol M Tears Up Moscow's Streets

Sputnik: Topol M Tears Up Moscow's Streets, Arriving at Exhibition Center

A road-mobile Topol-M missile complex tore up the streets of Moscow Monday night, completing a 100-kilometer journey from the town of Serpukhov, south of Moscow, before arriving in the capital.

Bystanders and media managed to get a first-hand glimpse of the mobile strategic missile system, which was headed to the All-Russian Exhibition Center in northern Moscow. The vehicle is set to take part in an outdoor public exhibition of Soviet and Russian weaponry in honor of the 70th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

WNU Editor: This is one my pet peeves with Moscow's military parades .... the roads always get ripped up and it takes forever to have them repaired. From the above video it appears that the Topol M uses tires .... so the damage is probably at a minimal. But when the tanks hit the road .... ouch.

Russia Conducts A Successful Major ICBM Test (Updated)

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Russia Test-Fires ICBM to Target in Kazakhstan -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russia test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a test site in southern Russia on Tuesday evening, a Russian defense ministry spokesman said.

Kapustin Yar is about 450 km (280 miles) east of the Ukrainian border. The launch coincided with reports of large deployments of apparently Russia-commanded troops in Crimea, which President Vladimir Putin denied on Tuesday.

Spokesman Igor Yegorov said the launch took place at 22:10 Moscow time (6:10 p.m. GMT) from the Kapustin Yar testing range in southern Russia’s Astrakhan Region.

The test was successful as the simulated warhead hit a designated target at a test range in Kazakhstan.

Read more ....

More News On Today's Russian ICBM Test

Russia successfully test-fires Topol ICBM to target in Kazakhstan -- Voice of Russia
Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine -- Reuters
Ukraine crisis: Russia tests missile amid Crimea tension -- BBC
Russia reports missile test-fire as Ukraine tensions rise -- Irish Times
Russia's Test-Firing of ICBM Planned, But 'Suspicious' -- NBC
Russia notified U.S. ahead of ICBM test, U.S. official says -- Reuters
Russian missile test planned before Ukraine crisis -- CNN
Russia gave prior notice of missile test: US official -- AFP
White House calls Russia's ICBM test launch 'routine' -- Reuters

Russia Test-Fires An ICBM As Tensions In The Ukraine Continue

A Topol-M mobile launcher during rehearsals for the 2012 Moscow Victory Day Parade. Business Insider

As Ukraine Tension Flares, Russia Test-Fires An ICBM -- The Age

Russia said it had successfully test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on Tuesday, with tensions high over its seizure of control in the Crimea and its threat to send more forces to its neighbour Ukraine.

The Strategic Rocket Forces launched an RS-12M Topol missile from the southerly Astrakhan region near the Caspian Sea and the dummy warhead hit its target at a proving ground in Kazakhstan, the state-run news agency RIA cited Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Yegorov as saying.

Read more ....

Update #1: Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine -- Reuters
Update #2: Russia Says It Just Test-Fired An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile -- Business Insider
Update #3: Russia Test Fires Ballistic Missile -- Radio Free Europe

WNU Editor: This is a breaking news story. We will update this post when more information becomes available.

Russia To Develop A New ICBM

Russia to Test 11 ICBMs in 2013. © RIA Novosti. Sergei Kazak

Russia to Develop Precision Conventional ICBM Option -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, December 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russia may develop a non-nuclear precision-guided payload capability for its new hundred-ton class liquid-fueled ICBM if need be, Strategic Missile Forces (RSVN) Commander Col. Gen. Sergei Karakayev said on Friday.

"The availability of a powerful liquid-fueled ICBM allows us the capability of creating a strategic high-accuracy weapons system with a conventional payload with practically global range, if the US does not pull back from its program for creating such missile systems," he said.

Read more ....

More News On Russia To Develop A New ICBM

Russia to build new heavy ICBM by 2018 – Karakayev -- Voice of Russia
Russian missiles capable to resist any anti missile defense system -- Voice of Russia
Russia to create two new super missiles, more powerful than Satan -- Pravda
Russia Developing New Long-Range Ballistic Missile -- Defense News
Russia considers new ICBM -- UPI
Russia may develop new long-range missile -- UPI
Russia Claims on Verge of New Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile -- International Business Times
Russia developing new long-range ballistic missile -- Business Recorder
Russia to Test 11 ICBMs in 2013 -- RIA Novosti

Russia Successfully Tests A New Ballistic Missile

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces test-fired a new prototype ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. © RIA Novosti. Sergei Kozak

Russia Test Fires New Ballistic Missile -- RIA Novosti

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces test-fired a new prototype ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk Region on Wednesday, Defense Ministry spokesman Vadim Koval said, but did not name the new weapon.

"The training round landed in the western region of the Kamchatka peninsula, hitting its target" he said.

The launch took place at 10.15 a.m. from a mobile launcher, he said.

Read more .....

More News On Russia Successfully Testing A New Ballistic Missile

Russia tests new missile after NATO summit -- AFP
Russia test-fires missile amid tensions over NATO defense shield announcement -- CNN
Russia Test-fires New Ballistic Missile -- RTT News
Russia test-fires new strategic missile from Plesetsk space center (updated) -- Kyiv Post

What The Inside Of A Russian Missile Factory Looks Like

Lana Sator poses on machinery at the crumbling Energomash plant outside Moscow

May The Force Be With Her: Russian Woman Sneaks Into Missile Factory... And Discovered It Looks Just Like A Scene From Star Wars -- Daily Mail

These incredible pictures were taken by a young Russian woman after she crept inside a factory belonging to one of the world's top manufacturers of liquid-fuel rockets.

Lana Sator found her way into one of NPO Energomash's huge factories outside the Russian capital Moscow, without coming across a single security guard - or indeed any other employees at all.

But she could now be in some serious trouble with the Russian government.

Read more ....

My Comment: She has spunk .... I give her credit for that. But for the Russian government this is extremely embarrassing, and for Lana Sator .... she is going to find herself in a heap of trouble coupled with bureaucratic and police harassment.

Before I forget .... her website is here.

A New Arms Race With Russia?

The SS-18 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile was given the nickname 'Satan'

Russia Launches Arms Race With New Intercontinental Ballistic Missile -- The Telegraph

Russia is developing a replacement for the world's most devastating intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in a move that risks reviving a global nuclear arms race.

Work on the new missile, which has yet to be given a name, started in Moscow in 2009 and could be wrapped up as early as 2017, the head of the secretive military industrial corporation helping develop it has revealed.

In comments to Russian news agency ITAR-TASS that went largely unnoticed, the head of Rosobshemash said the new missile would be capable of overcoming any nuclear missile shield that the Americans or indeed anyone else might build.

Read more ....

My Comment: The U.S. is going down a different path.

Report: Russia Set To Test New Ballistic Missiles

From MSNBC:

Submarine-launched weapon has capacity for up to six nuclear warheads.

MOSCOW - Russia will conduct at least five test launches of a new-generation intercontinental ballistic missile this year, the deputy defense minister was quoted as saying Tuesday.

Col. Gen. Vladimir Popovkin said the Bulava missile needs thorough testing because "the reliability of all aspects of the rocket needs to be achieved" in comments carried by state news agency RIA Novosti.

Read more ....

My Comment: Russia is trying to play catch-up .... but they still have a long way to go from when it was the Soviet Union.