MOSCOW — Russia has begun series production of its hypersonic “Avangard”missiles equipped with a glide vehicle, local news reported Sunday.
“It is time for our Western counterparts to accept the new reality. Russian’Kinzhal’ (missiles) are on duty, and ‘Avangard’ missiles have enteredseries production,” RIA Novosti news agency cited a military-diplomaticsource as saying.
Russia’s Western counterparts should sit at the negotiating table to talkabout “overwhelming security” with regard to the most advanced weaponsdeveloped by Russia, said the source.
Russia said its “Avangard” missiles can fly at a speed 20 times that ofsound and can reach intercontinental distances, and the “Kinzhal” can flyat a speed 10 times that of sound.
The two series of missiles can deliver nuclear or conventional warheads toa target more than 2,000 km away.
In his annual address to parliament on Thursday, Russian President VladimirPutin unveiled a number of state-of-the-art missiles that can “pierce anydefense systems.” – Xinhua