Putin Announces Crash Program for Hypersonic Missiles

Nov. 24—The new Oreshnik hypersonic missile, successfully tested yesterday against Ukraine, is to go into major production, as announced Nov. 22 in a meeting called by Russian President Vladimir Putin of leaders of the Defense Ministry and missile system developers. Both the immediate military advantage that it provides and the NASA-style team pulled together in the crash program over the last year were stressed. Here are some highlights from the official English translation on the President’s website.

Putin: “You know that yesterday I informed the Armed Forces personnel, the citizens of Russia, our allies around the world as well as those who are trying to blackmail us by force, about Russia’s newest medium-range missile system…. As we all know based on the objective control data, the test was a success. I congratulate you on this. And, as I have already said, we will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats posed to Russia. All the more so as we have a stockpile of such products, a reserve of such systems ready for use.”

Putin thanked "the entire cooperative network which encompasses designers, researchers, engineers, and workers who developed hypersonic technologies, analyzed the ballistics, and mastered the production of cutting-edge materials, control systems, microelectronics, and much more.

“Your achievements and the short time it took you to develop this new system inspire pride and admiration. They convincingly show that the domestic school of rocket engineering possesses tremendous potential and is capable of addressing the most complex tasks to ensure Russia’s security and sovereignty.

“In this context, importantly, the Oreshnik system is not an upgrade of old Soviet-era systems…. However, this system is, in fact, the result of your work that was done in modern Russia, new Russia. The system relies entirely on contemporary cutting-edge innovations.

“I must say that in today’s circumstances, when we face new and mounting threats and challenges, the development of such weapons systems holds special, one might even say vital, importance for our country….

“The weapon system tested yesterday serves as yet another reliable guarantor of Russia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“No one else in the world has such weapons yet, as we and you know. Indeed, sooner or later other leading countries will have them, we know what kind of designs are being worked on there. However, it will be tomorrow, or in a year or two. Meanwhile, we have this system today. And this is essential.”

Further: "Due to its striking power, especially when used en masse and in combination with other long-range precision systems that Russia also has, using it against enemy targets will be comparable in effect and power to using strategic weapons. Although in fact the Oreshnik system is not a strategic weapon; in any case, it is not an intercontinental ballistic missile and it is not a means of mass destruction, also because it is a high-precision weapon.

“At the same time, as I have already mentioned, there are no means of countering such a missile; no means of intercepting it exist in the world today….

“We need to launch its serial production. Let us assume that the decision on the serial production of this system has been made. As a matter of fact, it has already been essentially organized.

Given the particular strength of this weapon, its power, it will be put into service with the Strategic Missile Forces. …

“It is also important that along with the Oreshnik system, several similar systems are currently being tested in Russia. Based on the test results, these weapons will also go into production. In other words, we have a whole line of medium- and shorter-range systems.”

Putin finished by emphasizing Russia’s success “in the creation of new technologies, new weapons systems and economic development. But, as I have repeatedly said, people are our greatest asset, the courage of those who fight at the front, the talent and stamina of those who work at factories and design bureaus, scientific centers and enterprises in all sectors of the economy. And we are certainly proud of such people. Given such people, all the tasks of the special military operation, as I said, will definitely be solved and Russia’s security will be reliably ensured.”

First Deputy Chair of the Military-Industry Commission of Russia Vasily Tonkoshkurov followed, saying that the “System was indeed developed in the shortest possible time and is entirely based on Russian technologies. Import substitution issues have been resolved. The defense industry enterprises’ research, development and production base makes it possible to launch a serial production of this type of weapon as quickly as possible.” Director General of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities Yury Borisov reported that the “design, technological, production, and, most importantly, personnel potential enables us to create products with unique characteristics, as you have already noted, unparalleled in the world. As for the production capacity, the practice has shown that we are able to multiply the output of the most in-demand weapons within the shortest time, especially when it comes to high-precision class weapons.”

Finally, the Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces Sergei Karakayev said that the "advanced medium-range missile complex Oreshnik is unmatched in terms of its capabilities. The missile’s combat equipment guarantees overcoming all existing and future missile defense systems. The complex is equipped with hypersonic warheads and can effectively strike a wide range of targets ranging from standalone to wide-area targets, including highly fortified ones. Given the weapon’s designated tasks and range, it can hit targets across Europe, offering significant advantages over other types of long-range precision weapons. As you earlier noted, the mass use of this weapon would be comparable to the use of nuclear weapons. …

“Considering the positive results of this launch, it seems reasonable to adopt the complex into service, continue its deployment, improve its capabilities, and to refine the operational skills of personnel when using and maintaining it. That concludes my report.”

Putin: “We will do just that. Thank you.”