The underwater drone is capable of operating at “very extreme depths covering intercontinental distances” at speeds much faster than current submarines, torpedoes and surface ships, Putin said.
Breaking: Putin interrupts state-of-nation speech with videos of new weaponry that will overcome US missile defense.
He also said Russia had tested a new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, called Sarmat, capable of striking targets by flying over either the North or South poles. The missile can be armed with nuclear warheads, he said, including the new hypersonic ones.
“With the total weight of over 200 tons it has a short active flight path, which complicates its intercept by ABM systems,” said Putin, according to TASS.
Russia’s claims about its nuclear capabilities can be difficult to verify. For example, Russian television flashed a design of their new nuclear-armed underwater drone in 2015. Many experts questioned details in the schematic, and doubted that the weapon is fully developed. But most agree a program looking into nuclear drones exists.
The president also spoke about domestic issues, including highway infrastructure and health care.
“The containment of Russia didn’t succeed,” Putin said. “It’s time to recognize that reality. This isn’t a bluff.”
“No one has listened to us,” he said, according to the AP. “You listen to us now.”
NPR’s Geoff Brumfiel contributed to this report.
Article Appeared @https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/01/589830396/putin-says-russia-has-nuclear-powered-missiles-that-cant-be-intercepted