Russia tests new nuclear weapons that can strike ANYWHERE on the planet and wipe out an area ‘the size of France’ in military video footage

  • The Russian defence ministry footage shows an RS-28 Sarmat missile launch
  • It can carry 10 large warheads, 16 smaller ones, or a combination of both
  • Each thermonuclear warhead is capable of being aimed to hit a different target
  • Sarmat is also capable of carrying up to 24 Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles
  • Avangard is said to travel at Mach 20 and can be armed with a nuclear payload 
  • Currently, there are no existing defences against this type of technology 
Nuclear super weapons that Vladimir Putin claims can strike anywhere on the planet are being tested by Russia, military footage has revealed.
Daunting images purport to show the latest round of tests for the missiles, which the military says are capable of wiping out an area ‘the size of Texas or France’.
The RS-28 Sarmat missiles are capable of striking targets via both the North and South poles and can carry more nuclear warheads than any other missile on the planet, Russia claims.
What's more, the RS-28 Sarmat missiles are able to deliver up to 24 of Russia's new Avangard hypersonic gliders, each of which can carry its own nuclear payload.
There is currently no method of defence against the Avangard cruise missiles, which can allegedly travel at 20 times the speed of sound. 
Putin has said both Sarmat and Avangard will be combat-ready by 2020.

Nuclear super weapons that Vladimir Putin says can strike anywhere on the planet are being tested by Russia. Daunting footage (pictured) has emerged of tests of the missiles, which the military says could wipe out an area ‘the size of Texas or France’
Nuclear super weapons that Vladimir Putin says can strike anywhere on the planet are being tested by Russia. Daunting footage (pictured) has emerged of tests of the missiles, which the military says could wipe out an area ‘the size of Texas or France’
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The video, released by the Russian Ministry of Defence, shows the bright checker coated RS-28 Sarmat missile, seen leaving its launch silo at a secret location in the Russian Federation.
The liquid-fuelled, superheavy thermonuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was developed to replace the old SS-18 Satan missile.
Sarmat 'allows the use of all types of individually targeted warheads, including those still on the drawing board,' said Russia's Strategic Missile Forces Commander, Colonel General Sergei Karatayev.
It will be capable of unleashing ten large thermonuclear warheads or 16 smaller ones, or a combination of both, each of which is capable of being aimed to hit a different target.
Russian Ministry of Defence run TV broadcaster Zvezda has previously claimed the missile will be able to wipe out parts of the Earth the size of Texas or France.
It is also capable of carrying the Avangard glide vehicle, a hypersonic vehicle designed to sit atop of an (ICBM).
Once launched, it uses aerodynamics to sail on top of the atmosphere.
It is capable of making sharp twists and turns on its way to targets, making it ‘absolutely invulnerable to any missile defence system’. 
The intercontinental ballistic weapons are capable of striking targets via both the North and South poles and Putin has said they will be combat ready in 2020. This image shows the launching pad used in the latest test
The intercontinental ballistic weapons are capable of striking targets via both the North and South poles and Putin has said they will be combat ready in 2020. This image shows the launching pad used in the latest test
This clip highlighted a test launch of the Kremlin's newest Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, which has a reach across the entire planet. This image shows the launch taking place
This clip highlighted a test launch of the Kremlin's newest Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, which has a reach across the entire planet. This image shows the launch taking place
Video shows Russia's newest ballistic missiles being tested

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WHAT DOES RUSSIA CLAIM TO HAVE IN ITS MILITARY ARSENAL?


The Russian Ministry of Defence has been keen to promote a range of new super weapons currently believed to be in development.
President Putin unveiled a catalogue of doomsday weaponry as part of his annual 'State of the Nation' speech in March 2018.
However, questions remain about the true nature of their capabilities, how far into development the weapons truly are, and when they will be combat-ready.

RS-28 Sarmat ICBM

The RS-28 Sarmat is intended to replace the Soviet-designed SS-18 Voyevoda, the world's heaviest ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile).
It is known as 'Satan' in the West and carries 10 nuclear warheads.
Sarmat can unleash ten large thermonuclear warheads, 16 smaller ones, or a combination of both, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Each warhead is purportedly capable of taking aim at a different target.
The hypersonic glide vehicle, dubbed Avangard, launches atop an intercontinental ballistic missile (IBM) before sailing on top of the atmosphere toward its target. Russia tested its latest IBM, the Sarmat missile, for the first time last year (pictured)
The hypersonic glide vehicle, dubbed Avangard, launches atop an intercontinental ballistic missile (IBM) before sailing on top of the atmosphere toward its target. Russia tested its latest IBM, the Sarmat missile, for the first time last year (pictured)
The (ICBM) weapons can strike targets via both the North and South poles.
TV broadcaster Zvezda, which is run by the Russian Ministry of Defence, has previously claimed the missile will be capable of wiping out areas the size of Texas or France.
It is also capable of carrying up to 24 of Russia's new Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, designed to sit atop of an ICBM.
Putin says both weapons will be combat-ready in 2020.

Avangard Hypersonic Glide Vehicle 

Russia is also believed to be developing a hypersonic weapon that can breach even the world's most advanced missile defence systems.
The Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle purportedly travels at 20 times the speed of sound and can hit targets anywhere in the world within half an hour.
The vehicle launches atop an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, before gliding on top of the atmosphere toward its target.
It is loaded with advanced countermeasure systems that allow it to skirt around the latest-generation of missile defence systems, Russia claims.
The vehicles are equipped with onboard countermeasure systems capable of dodging even the most advanced missile defence systems. This artist's impression shows how the  glider could manoeuvre at high speed to bypass missile defences en route to its target
The vehicles are equipped with onboard countermeasure systems capable of dodging even the most advanced missile defence systems. This artist's impression shows how the glider could manoeuvre at high speed to bypass missile defences
The gliders are also highly unpredictable thanks to their manoeuvrability, making them almost impossible to track using conventional systems.
Each weapon could be loaded with a nuclear warhead, however military experts say the sheer speed of the vehicles means they could do damage even without an explosive payload attached.
Putin described his hypersonic arsenal as 'invincible' during a state-of-the-nation address in March 2018.
He claimed Avangard strikes 'like a meteorite, like a fireball' and was capable of reaching targets at 20 times the speed of sound.
At this speed the weapon could circle the Earth in just over half an hour. 

Kinzhal Hypersonic Air Launched Missile

Another new missile, the hypersonic Kinzhal, travels at ten times the speed of sound, Putin says.
It is currently undergoing tests in southern Russia.
The hypersonic Kinzhal missile is launched from a high-altitude MiG-31 fighter jet and can be fitted with either nuclear, or conventional weapons.
It has an effective range of 1,250 miles (2,000 km), although Putin claims its total range is actually 'unlimited'.
Russia has already conducted some 350 training missions with the military unit tasked with testing the Kinzhal.
This still shows the hypersonic Kinzhal, which travels at ten times the speed of sound and is currently undergoing tests in southern Russia
This still shows the hypersonic Kinzhal, which travels at ten times the speed of sound and is currently undergoing tests in southern Russia
Putin claims the new missile would be capable of striking 'anywhere in the world', and that its high speed and manoeuvrability allowed it to pierce any missile defence.
However, despite Putin's major promises, the missile has still not been able to stay airborne for more than a few minutes, according to US intelligence sources.
The new missile has purportedly been tested four times between November and February and crashed every time.

Poseidon Drone Submarine 

The Poseidon drone submarine is essentially a giant, nuclear-capable torpedo capable of carrying a two megaton nuclear warhead capable of obliterating military ports.
The Kremlin's Poseidon torpedo sub is designed to destroy 'enemy navy bases' and will be able to travel up to 70 knots (80 miles per hour), it claims.
Russian state news agency TASS says it has not been able to confirm details of the weapon.
The Poseidon drone submarine - with a miniature nuclear propulsion system - is shown undergoing a static test
The Poseidon drone submarine - with a miniature nuclear propulsion system - is shown undergoing a static test
However, it quoted a military source as saying: 'It will be possible to mount various nuclear charges on the "torpedo" of the Poseidon multipurpose seaborne system, with the thermonuclear single warhead similar to the Avangard charge to have the maximum capacity of up to two megatonnes in TNT equivalent.'
With its nuke, the weapon 'is primarily designed to destroy reinforced naval bases of a potential enemy,' the report added.

Peresvet Combat Laser System 

Named after a medieval warrior monk, very little is known about this system.
Many believe Peresvet is a jamming system, which can be used to 'blind' optical electronic equipment inside enemy vehicles using a laser beam.
According to ex-Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov the 'combat laser systems' that Putin addressed in his State of the Nation speech back in March had already been delivered to the nation's armed forces last year.
Once found only in works of fiction, Borisov said such devices were now a very real and necessary tool of modern warfare.
Russia successfully tested Avangard twice in 2016, the sources claim.

A third test in October 2017 failed when the platform crashed seconds before hitting its target, they said.
But Moscow, which has been developing the weapon for three decades, remains on track to get ready for war in the next two years.
Putin described his hypersonic arsenal as 'invincible' during a state-of-the-nation address in March. 
He claimed the Avangard would fly to targets at a speed 20 times the speed of sound and strike 'like a meteorite, like a fireball.'
Russia's hypersonic weapon that can travel at five times the speed of sound will be ready by 2020. This image taken from footage provided by official website of Russian President: Kremlin.ru shows a computer simulation of the glider vehicle Avangard
Russia's hypersonic weapon that can travel at five times the speed of sound will be ready by 2020. This image taken from footage provided by official website of Russian President: Kremlin.ru shows a computer simulation of the glider vehicle Avangard
Standing in front of a large projection of computer generated missiles and simulated strikes on American soil, the former KGB agent said the hypersonic glider had already entered serial production. 
'I want to tell all those who have fuelled the arms race over the last 15 years, sought to win unilateral advantages over Russia, introduced unlawful sanctions aimed to contain our country's development: You have failed to contain Russia,' Putin said.
America's top nuclear commander said US forces are unable to defend against a hypersonic weapon during a speech in March.
'We don't have any defence that could deny the employment of such a weapon against us,' Air Force General John Hyten, commander of US Strategic Command, told lawmakers at the Senate Armed Services Committee.
'Both Russia and China are aggressively pursuing hypersonic capabilities,' he said, adding that the US had 'watched them test those capabilities.'

WHAT ARE HYPERSONIC MISSILES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

Aircraft and missiles are said to be hypersonic once they exceed speeds of Mach 5 and above, or five times the speed of sound.
This occurs at 1,715 metres per second (3,836mph / 6,174kmh).
The latest class of hypersonic missiles would be smaller, guided and designed to carry conventional explosives for time-sensitive, rapid response in theatre operations. 
There are two kinds of approaches to solving the hypersonic challenge in missiles: 'scramjet' and 'boost glide.' 
The air-breathing scramjet relies on high speed for its power.
As it accelerates, more air and fuel is pushed into the engine, allowing it to accelerate even more - to hypersonic speeds.
The boost glide model rides a reentry vehicle to extremely high altitudes, where it skips across the Earth's upper atmosphere.
Traditional ballistic missiles already travel at hypersonic speeds.
Built to carry nuclear and conventional warheads, these weapons are capable of reaching outer space in the course of their flights, but they can't manoeuvre.