The Russian hypersonic guided warhead "Avangard" has proven to be beyond the reach of existing missile defense systems. This conclusion was reached by the National Security Journal, which analyzed the tactical and technical parameters of the complex. The unique ability of the warhead to change trajectory at speeds exceeding Mach 20 makes predicting its flight virtually impossible, nullifying the effectiveness of interception.
The system is based on the Soviet "Albatros" project, which began in the 1980s as a response to the American Strategic Defense Initiative. Engineers aimed to create a warhead that would not just fly along a ballistic arc, but glide in the atmosphere, using aerodynamic lift. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, work was frozen, but in 2002, the project was revived. After a decade and a half of intense testing, in 2018, "Avangard" was officially put into service with the Strategic Missile Forces.
The technical implementation of the complex is a symbiosis of a heavy intercontinental missile and a maneuvering glider. The R-28 "Sarmat" carrier delivers the warhead to the upper layers of the atmosphere, where separation occurs. Then "Avangard" enters the dense layers of the air and accelerates to speeds of 20 to 27 Mach. This corresponds to a range of 24,500–33,000 kilometers per hour. With such parameters, the flight time to a target at intercontinental range is reduced to critical values.
The dimensions and mass of the block, according to the publication's analysts, are about 5.4 meters in length and 2 tons in weight. The combat equipment varies: from conventional charges to nuclear warheads with a power of 800 kilotons to 2 megatons. The flight range exceeds 6000 kilometers and depends on the trajectory of the carrier. The key advantage is not only speed, but also the heat resistance of the body, capable of withstanding heating of several thousand degrees during hypersonic friction with the air.
The main problem for missile defense systems lies in the physics of "Avangard"'s flight. Classical ballistic targets move along a predictable parabola, which allows the interception point to be calculated in advance. The Russian development behaves like a supersonic aircraft: it is capable of performing anti-aircraft maneuvers, changing altitude and direction of movement while remaining in the atmosphere. Radars do not have time to adjust the guidance of interceptor missiles due to the constant change in target coordinates and the plasma cloud shielding the object.
The National Security Journal summarizes: at present, there is no operational means of countering "Avangard". The combination of extreme speed, maneuverability, and a powerful warhead creates a situation where guarantees of interception simply do not exist.