Russia’s nuclear-powered arsenal is 'highly exaggerated': Experts say the Kremlin's claims are unfounded, as shocking new images reveal the country faking a cruise missile attack
- Moscow shared a clip of what it claims was an attack by a Pacific Fleet submarine
- It was the latest of a series of videos highlighting the country’s battle prowess
- However, the same footage was broadcast on state TV almost two years ago
- At the time, the video was described as a part of a training mission in Crimea
- Experts have also questioned the propaganda being put out by the Russians
- Neil Gibson, a senior weapons analyst, said some of claims made by Russia around its nuclear-powered weaponry are 'highly exaggerated'
Russia's boasts around its new arsenal of nuclear super weapons may have been greatly exaggerated, according to industry experts.
A number of experts have come forward to debunk some of the myths put forward by the former Soviet Union in response to its recent posturing.
Neil Gibson, senior weapons analyst for the firm Jane's by IHS Markit, told MailOnline that certain claims around its weaponry were 'highly exaggerated'.
Meanwhile, nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Jeffrey Lewis said Russia's most recent claims around its hypersonic Kinzhal missile are 'bats*** crazy'.
It comes as footage revealed the Russian Ministry of Defence faked a cruise missile attack from a nuclear submarine.
It was aired on state owned TV as part of a demonstration of Russia's military might. However, eagle-eyed viewers spotted the video was in fact a re-run of a clip first broadcast in 2016.
The video was recently aired again as part of a raft of propaganda to promote Vladimir Putin's new super missiles, which he claims will be able to strike anywhere on the planet.
Russia has been accused of faking a cruise missile attack from a nuclear submarine. The Ministry of Defence in Moscow proudly posted footage (pictured) of what it says was an attack by Pacific Fleet submarine Tomsk on a ship 93 miles away in the Sea of Okhotsk
Russian watchers soon mocked the video, pointing out that the footage is of a training strike, originally broadcast on TV Zvezda - owned by the ministry - almost two years ago (pictured)
In recent days, the Ministry of Defence in Moscow proudly aired footage of what it claims was an attack by Pacific Fleet submarine Tomsk on a ship 93 miles away in the Sea of Okhotsk.
It was the latest of a series of videos broadcast by Russia to highlight the country’s battle prowess – however, the latest footage has been debunked.
Eagle-eyed viewers in Russia have mocked the video, pointing out that the footage is of a training strike, originally broadcast on TV Zvezda – owned by the ministry – almost two years ago.
At the time, the footage was described as a Moskit missile strike on a ship posing as an enemy off Crimea in the Black Sea.
Crimea is some 6,500 miles (10,000 km) from the Sea of Okhotsk.
The original announcement from the Ministry said: 'During the Kavkaz-2016 military exercises in the Crimea…the anti-ship missile “Moskit” was deployed.”
As a result 'the pretend enemy was destroyed.'
Russians flooded social media to mock the fraudulent clip.
A number of professionals have also questioned the latest series of claims coming from the Russian Federation about its new arsenal, which has been under development for a number of years.
President Putin using his annual 'State of the Nation' speech in March 2018 to talk up the latest abilities in his arsenal, including claims that the nation's new super missiles are capable of striking targets located anywhere on the planet.
A number of experts have come forward in response to posturing from the former Soviet Union, to debunk some of the myths put forward by the country. This image shows a still from the footage
A number of experts have come forward in response to posturing from the former Soviet Union, to debunk some of the myths put forward by the country. This image shows a still from the footage
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 (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
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.
Speaking to MailOnline, Neil Gibson, senior weapons analyst for Jane's by IHS Markit, said: 'I think the ability of hypersonic systems to defeat air-defence system is highly exaggerated.
'They have advantages and disadvantages as per any other weapon system.
'The fact is, the vast majority of ballistic missiles are already hypersonic anyway, it's the controlled flight when still hypersonic that we are talking about here.
'If nuclear armed, they just come under 'mutually assured destruction' style posturing. Using them is always possible of course.
'Conventionally-armed versions are more likely to be used, though any confusion with what they carry - nuclear or conventional warhead - could start an exchange of nuclear weapons if it is mistaken for a nuclear attack.'
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.
This still shows the hypersonic Kinzhal, which travels at ten times the speed of sound and is currently undergoing tests in southern Russia
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.
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.
Burevestnik nuclear powered cruise missile
The burevestnik, or thunderbird, nuclear propulsion system for Russian cruise missiles aims to give them 'unlimited range and unlimited ability to manoeuvre', according to Sergey Pertsev, a developer.
Ministry of Defence officials said in July, 2018, that work on the unlimited-range missile is going according to plan.
Footage purported to show the missile in action, although it is unclear whether it was being powered by nuclear or conventional fuel.
The 'Burevestnik' nuclear propulsion system for Russian cruise missiles, pictured, is said to have 'unlimited range and unlimited ability to manoeuvre'
'Launching systems are also being designed, while technological processes to manufacture, assemble and test the missile are being improved,' an official said at the time.
However, experts have criticised the missile, including Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
He told Vice's Motherboard: 'The nuclear-powered cruise missile is new—and bats**t crazy.'
Poseidon Drone Submarine
The Poseidon drone submarine is a sister project to burevestnik.
It 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
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 carried on the back of military lorries, 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.
Many believe Peresvet is a jamming system carried on the back of military lorries (pictured), which can be used to 'blind' optical electronic equipment inside enemy vehicles using a laser beam
Once found only in works of fiction, Mr Borisov said such devices were now a very real and necessary tool of modern warfare.
'We can talk a lot about laser weapons and movies were made about them a long time ago and fantastic books have been written, and everyone knows about this,' Mr Borisov said in comments translated by the state-run Tass Russian News Agency.
But the fact that these systems have started entering service is indeed today's reality.'Russian Ministry of Defence officials said in July 2018 that work on the unlimited-range missile is going according to plan.
Footage released last week purported to show the missile in action, although it is unclear whether it was being powered by nuclear or conventional fuel.
But despite the recent claims and new test footage, Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, believes Russia is exaggerating the power of its nuclear-powered arsenal.
He told Vice's Motherboard the nuclear-powered cruise missiles in the video were 'bats*** crazy.'
Russia's new weapons also include the hypersonic Kinzhal missile, which is launched from a high-altitude MiG-31 fighter jet and can be fitted with either nuclear, or conventional weapons.
The main reason to fit hypersonic rockets to fighter jets is 'to say you can,' James Acton, a physicist with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Motherboard.
A number of professionals have also questioned the claims coming forth from the Russian Federation about its upcoming arsenal, currently under testing. This image shows a still from the footag
All of the weapons have been under development for a number of years, with President Putin using his annual 'State of the Nation' speech in March 2018 to talk up their abilities. This image shows the Tomsk submarine
Images purporting to show the latest round of tests for Russia's range of new weapons, have been pouring out of the country in recent days.
Its 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’
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.
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
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’.
Speaking to MailOnline, Neil Gibson, senior weapons analyst for Jane’s by IHS Markit, said: 'I think the ability of hypersonic systems to defeat air-defence system is highly exaggerated.
'They have advantages and disadvantages as per any other weapon system. The fact is, the vast majority of ballistic missiles are already hypersonic anyway, it’s the controlled flight when still hypersonic that we are talking about here.
'If nuclear armed, they just come under 'mutually assured destruction' style posturing. Using them is always possible of course.
'Conventionally-armed versions are more likely to be used, though any confusion with what they carry - nuclear or conventional warhead - could start an exchange of nuclear weapons if it is mistaken for a nuclear attack.'
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