At the end of December 2024, the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) of the Russian Federation completed the rearmament of a division in the Orenburg region with a new Avangard missile system with a hypersonic warhead. Thanks to a speed of 20–27 Mach (that is, about 24,480 km/h – 33,076 km/h), the complex surpasses the capabilities of traditional intercontinental ballistic missiles. This is written by Army Recognition.
Avangard was first introduced in December 2019. This is an advanced complex that is capable of breaking through enemy missile defense/air defense systems and hitting a target.
The range of the Avangard exceeds 6,000 km. The missile can carry both a nuclear and a conventional warhead. It is known that the power of a nuclear warhead is about 2 megatons in TNT equivalent. This is an overwhelming destructive force.
Army Recognition journalists noted the record speed of the missile system. Avangard also changes its flight path, so missile defense systems cannot intercept the missile.
A ballistic missile delivers the Avangard to the required altitude, where the maneuvering units separate. Then they fly to the target, changing their trajectory.
There is no photo of the Avangard missile system on the Web. Experts suggest that it probably has a short wedge-shaped design or a shuttle configuration with small stabilizer wings.
The threat posed by Avangard is serious for the United States and Europe. Presumably, one Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can carry up to 12 Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles to strike 12 locations.
This significantly strengthens Russia's strategic capabilities and raises the stakes in the nuclear arms race, Western journalists summarized.
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