What is Oreshnik?: Как иностранные эксперты отреагировали на новую баллистическую ракету Путина

The Russian launch of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) has sparked international reaction. After yesterday's "presentation" of the new product, which is undergoing direct testing in the combat zone, the whole world was glued to the screens in search of an answer to what this new weapon is.

Rumors about the unknown novelty were dispelled in the evening by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Unexpectedly for everyone, he came up with an explanation of the situation. It was then that the name of the new strategic weapon was first mentioned.

Foreign experts did not keep the public waiting for a reaction. In their opinion, the missile test has a broader context than just a demonstration of new technologies.

Matthew Savill, a representative of the Royal United Services Institute in the UK, said in an interview with Associated Press that the missile launch is a signal to Western powers, hinting at Russia's readiness to participate in the competition to create intermediate-range ballistic missiles, including the possibility of equipping them with nuclear warheads.

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson noted that "the speed at which the warhead flies is such that the Patriot air defense systems, which the West traditionally relies on, are not able to protect against the missile."

Former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter noted that Storm Shadow and ATACMS will never be able to compare with the new Russian IRBM in terms of destruction and stressed that American missiles are not the weapon that changes the course of events, unlike the "Oreshnik".

Importance of MIRV Technology

Special attention was paid to the characteristics of the Oreshnik missile.

Fabian Hoffmann, a research fellow at the University of Oslo and an expert specializing in missile technology and nuclear strategy, in comments to Reuters stressed the importance of using a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) in the Oreshnik missile. In his opinion, this is a clear sign that the missile can carry nuclear weapons, which emphasizes the possible consequences of such a test for international security. This type of warhead was developed during the Cold War and became an important technological step in missile systems capable of carrying nuclear weapons, Reuters quotes him.

Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, also noted that missiles like the Oreshnik are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, making them potentially more dangerous. In a comment to The New York Times, he stressed that the possibility of using several nuclear warheads at the same time is "a pretty clear signal".

Read more on the topic:

Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces Karakaev: "Oreshnik" can hit targets throughout Europe

Putin: the newest Oreshnik missile system will go into mass production

Russian "Oreshnik" compared to nuclear missiles: nothing will bloom after it