Trump claims Russia stole missile tech in Obama era heist
During an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump shared his claims about Russian hypersonic weapons. According to Defence Blog, the former U.S. president believes that Russia stole American hypersonic missile designs during the Obama administration. This alleged theft would have made it easier and faster for the Kremlin to develop this type of weaponry.
Trump speculates that an unknown individual handed plans related to hypersonic weapon construction to Moscow. "Russia stole the design, they got it from us," he stated on Fox News. "Some bad person gave them the design," he added. However, as noted by Defence Blog, Trump did not provide any specific information to back up these claims. He assured, however, that the United States will soon have its own "super-hypersonic missiles," which he claims will surpass those of other nations.
Trump accuses Russia of stealing hypersonic weapon design
Trump made similar accusations against Russia earlier in 2023. The Kremlin then denied acquiring any secret data regarding U.S. hypersonic technologies. Defence Blog notes that Trump is not the only one who suspects Russia of stealing information related to U.S. weapons. This narrative is also supported by American diplomat and lawyer John Bolton, who served as the U.S. National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019.
Delays in the creation of the American hypersonic weapon LRHW (Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon), also known as Dark Eagle, are contributing to a significant gap between the hypersonic capabilities of the United States and other powers like Russia and China. These countries are also actively working in this field and have already managed to implement various types of hypersonic weapons.
China has developed the DF-27 missiles and their air-launched variant, the YJ-21. Meanwhile, Russia possesses the Ch-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, 3M22 Zircon missiles, the Avangard system, and the recently revealed Oreshnik missiles. Iran and North Korea are often mentioned among the alleged possessors of hypersonic weapons.
Russian Hypersonic Weapons
Avangard is classified as an HGV (Hypersonic Glide Vehicle) weapon, which means it's launched as a payload of an intercontinental ballistic missile such as the UR-100NUTTH, R-36M2, or RS-28 Sarmat. According to the Russians, the vehicle can travel at speeds exceeding 13,420 mph and perform evasive maneuvers, making it very difficult to intercept with current missile defense systems. The Kremlin claims that Avangard has a range of over 3,730 miles, a weight of about 4,409 lbs, and can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads with a yield of over 2 megatons of TNT equivalent.
Another system is the Ch-47M2 Kinzhal, a hypersonic ballistic missile launched from MiG-31K fighters. Its speed reaches up to 7,673 mph, and it has a range of approximately 1,243 miles. It is designed to strike land and sea targets, including aircraft carriers and fortified structures. A significant advantage is its ability to be launched from an aircraft, increasing its mobility and complicating detection.
Russia has also developed the 3M22 Zircon, a hypersonic anti-ship missile that can be launched from surface ships and submarines. Its speed is about 6,000-6,900 mph, and its range is estimated to be over 621 miles. It is designed to destroy strike groups, especially American aircraft carriers, and key strategic targets on land.
The newest addition to Putin's hypersonic arsenal is believed to be the Oreshnik missile. Its exact specifications remain unknown. Some experts believe Russia developed it based on the RS-26 Rubezh missile with the intention of carrying nuclear payloads and that it can travel at speeds reaching up to 7,673 mph.
