Latest news with #Oreshnik
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Putin's Oreshnik missile sparks panic — what's inside this weapon alarming the US and EU?
Oreshnik missile is Russia's newest hypersonic weapon now entering mass production after proving its power in Ukraine. Announced by President Vladimir Putin, the Oreshnik can reach speeds of Mach 10, carry multiple warheads, and strike targets as far as 5,500 km. Its first combat use was in Dnipro, Ukraine, where it destroyed a defense plant. Now, with plans to deploy it in Belarus, tensions are rising. Ukraine demands sanctions on over 20 Russian defense firms involved. With unmatched speed and range, the Oreshnik missile is shaping the future of warfare—and possibly the balance of power across Europe. Russia begins mass production of the Oreshnik missile, a Mach 10 hypersonic weapon tested in Ukraine. With powerful warheads and long range, this missile could reshape defense strategies across Europe, as tensions rise and Ukraine urges fresh sanctions on Russian firms. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What exactly is the Oreshnik missile, and how deadly is it? How does Oreshnik compare with other Russian hypersonic missiles? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why is Ukraine calling for new sanctions over the Oreshnik? What are Russia's deployment plans for the Oreshnik missile? Is the Oreshnik a response to the collapse of the INF Treaty? Could a missile 'duel' with the U.S. really happen? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs: Russia has officially begun mass production of its advanced Oreshnik missile system, a next-generation hypersonic weapon that has already seen real combat use in Ukraine. The announcement came directly from President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with military academy graduates, signaling Moscow's renewed focus on strategic missile development amid rising global tensions. Described as an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik has reportedly been built to outmaneuver existing Western missile defense systems with speeds reaching Mach 10 and carrying warheads powerful enough to rival a nuclear strike—without technically being Oreshnik missile system, classified as a medium-to-intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), can reportedly strike targets up to 5,500 kilometers away. The weapon made headlines in November 2024 after being used for the first time in Ukraine. Launched from Russia's Astrakhan region, it struck the Pivdenmash defense plant in Dnipro from 1,000 kilometers to Russian officials, the missile can carry multiple warheads—six in this instance—and delivers destruction so intense that it allegedly reduces targets into dust, with heat levels reportedly reaching 7,000 degrees Celsius. Although President Putin claims Oreshnik is not a nuclear weapon, its destructive potential has drawn comparisons to nuclear arms due to the sheer scale of damage it can Oreshnik missile joins Russia's existing hypersonic lineup, which includes the Kinzhal, Tsirkon, and Avangard systems. All these weapons are designed to fly at hypersonic speeds—over five times the speed of sound—and follow unpredictable paths, making them extremely hard to insists that Oreshnik stands apart, calling it unmatched and 'without analogues in the world.' He said the missile is so fast and agile that 'no air defense system, including those from the U.S. or NATO, can intercept it.' However, Western analysts have pushed back on that claim. For example, Michael Bohnert, a defense expert at RAND, noted that while the Oreshnik's speed and range are concerning, its practical battlefield impact might be overstated, especially given the high cost and limited its debut, Ukraine labeled the Oreshnik a serious threat. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been urging Western allies to impose more targeted sanctions on Russian defense firms involved in the missile's production. As of June 20, Zelensky said 39 Russian defense companies are tied to the missile project—but only 18 of them are currently under Western sanctions. That leaves 21 firms able to continue sourcing key components without restrictions.'Without these parts, there will be no Oreshnik,' Zelensky warned in a press briefing, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. The Ukrainian president emphasized that these missiles aren't just a battlefield concern—they're also a looming threat to European a further escalation, Russia has also announced plans to station Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus, echoing its earlier deployment of Iskander missiles there. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed in March 2025 that Belarus is preparing launchers for the system and is waiting on delivery of the also stated in late 2024 that the Oreshnik would be assigned to Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, the branch responsible for managing the country's long-range nuclear arsenal. This placement suggests that Moscow sees the Oreshnik as more than just a regional threat—it could be positioned for broader strategic experts believe that the Oreshnik is a direct outcome of the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. The treaty, signed in 1987 between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, banned all land-based missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. After Washington exited the agreement, citing Russian violations, Moscow resumed work on new missile systems, including the RS-26 Rubezh—believed to be the blueprint for a recent CSTO Summit in Astana, Putin echoed this view. 'There are no analogues of the Oreshnik missile system in the world,' he said, adding that 'such analogues are unlikely to appear soon.'In a provocative statement last December, Putin proposed a 'duel' between the Oreshnik and U.S. missile defense systems to showcase the missile's effectiveness. 'We're ready for such an experiment,' he said, according to Russian state analysts have been quick to tamp down the theatrics. Grace Mappes of the Institute for the Study of War said Russia has long possessed missiles capable of hitting NATO territories and that Oreshnik simply makes 'an old threat look new.' She pointed out that the existence of such missiles doesn't drastically shift the military balance but does introduce added pressure on the West to beef up missile defense Oreshnik missile's entry into mass production is clearly a major step for Russia's missile strategy. Whether it lives up to the hype or not, the weapon is already reshaping the security dialogue across Europe and the U.S. With growing calls for sanctions, potential deployments in Belarus, and increasing tension on the battlefield, the missile's impact may reach far beyond its physical Oreshnik missile is used for high-speed, long-range precision strikes in fears it could cause major destruction and wants sanctions to stop its production.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Russia to mass produce hypersonic ballistic missile to compete with US weapons, Putin says
Moscow is set to mass produce its new hypersonic ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which Russian President Vladimir Putin touted as a weapon capable of besting any US-made system. Putin ordered officials to ramp up production of the Oreshnik intermediate-range missile this week, which made a shocking debut last November when it was used to attack a Ukrainian military site in Dnipro. 'Serial production of the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system is under way,' Putin told graduating military cadets in Moscow. 5 Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin was mass producing the new Oreshnik hypersonic missile. AP 5 The missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads to targets up to 3,425 miles away. Anadolu via Getty Images The Oreshnik — Russian for 'hazel tree' — was studied by Kyiv and appeared to be based on Moscow's RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads up to 3,425 miles. The range of the weapon would allow Moscow to launch nuclear weapons anywhere in Europe and even the western United States. Putin greenlit the rocket's use on November 21 in direct response to the use of US- and British-made cruise missiles inside Russian territory. The Russian strongman had claimed that the West has no way of counteracting the hypersonic weapon, warning that the Kremlin could seek the atomic option if it's attacked by ballistic missiles from a nation backed by a nuclear superpower. 5 Moscow began testing it's intercontinental ballistic missiles against Ukraine last fall. AP 5 Ukrainian rescue workers put out a fire after Russia used the missile against Dnipro in November. Ukrainian Emergency Service Putin followed up the threat last December, when he suggested the Oreshnik would win in a duel against America's defense systems. He also claimed Russia would set up a missile base for the Oreshnik's in Belarus come 2025, which directly borders Poland, a NATO member nation. US officials dismissed Putin's boasting at the time, saying the missile was not the game-changer Moscow claimed it to be and suggesting Russia only possessed a handful of Oreshniks. Putin's talk of mass producing the weapons comes as Ukrainian forces halted Russia's advancements along the Sumy region, stopping 50,000 Moscow troops from claiming further territory as the war enters a new quagmire, according to Kyiv's top military commander. 5 A Ukrainian investigator displays debris from the Russian ballistic missile. REUTERS Despite the slowing advancement on the ground, Moscow has kept up its aerial barrages, launching hundreds of drones and missiles over the border and leading to civilian casualties in Ukraine. At the same time Russia carries on its invasion of Ukraine and threats of nuclear attacks on the West, it is also calling on Iran to cooperate with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog group to maintain peace in the Middle East. After Iran's parliament voted to suspect cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Tehran's National Security Council to strike the bill down. 'We are interested in Iran's cooperation with the IAEA continuing,' he told reporters Thursday. 'We are interested in everyone respecting the Supreme Leader of Iran, who has repeatedly stated that Iran does not and will not have plans to create nuclear weapons,' he added. With Post wires
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Putin said Russia is starting mass production of a ballistic missile that he wants to 'duel' with US-made defenses
Russia is ramping up its production of Oreshnik hypersonic missiles, Vladimir Putin said this week. The Oreshnik missile, first used against Ukraine last year, could hit targets in Europe and the US. In December, Putin suggested a duel between the Oreshnik and US-made air defenses. Russia is scaling up its production of Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missiles, which Russian President Vladimir Putin previously put forward as a possible duel contender against US missile defense systems. Putin told a graduating class of military cadets on Monday that Russia is accelerating production of the Oreshnik missile, which was first used against Ukraine in November. "Serial production of the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system is under way," said Putin in the televised address, per Reuters. With a range of up to about 3,415 miles, the Oreshnik is capable of reaching targets across Europe and even the western United States. Putin has said that the missile is nearly impossible to intercept and can carry a destructive force comparable to that of a nuclear weapon. After the Oreshnik was used to strike Ukraine's Dnipro region in November, Putin said there were "currently no ways of counteracting this weapon," per the BBC. Putin has previously made claims about how unstoppable certain Russian missiles are, only to see them downed in combat a short while later. In December, Putin proposed a "duel" with the US to show the Oreshnik's alleged supremacy over US-made systems. "We're ready for such an experiment," he said. But Michael Bohnert, a defense analyst at RAND, told Business Insider that while the missile's range and speed pose challenges, its practical impact might be overstated. "When it comes to the ability of Oreshnik missiles and bypassing defenses, the fundamental issue with missile defense is not capability but the quantity and location of missile defenses tailored to the threat," he said. "Oreshnik missiles are incredibly expensive for their limited conventional warhead size and quantity," he added. "While it has the range to target many locations without matching air defenses, its literal kinetic impact would still be low for the cost." However, Bohnert said that the missiles do force the need for "more matching air defenses to protect critical infrastructure." Grace Mappes, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, argued that the Oreshnik does not represent a major shift in Russia's military capabilities. She told BI that Russia has other missiles with comparable ranges and greater payloads. "Russia regularly strikes Ukraine with nuclear-capable missiles and has long had missiles in mainland Russia and Kaliningrad capable of striking NATO states," she said. "These capabilities have not changed," she added. "Russia is just using the Oreshnik to make an old threat upon which Russia has never acted seem new." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Putin said Russia is starting mass production of a ballistic missile that he wants to 'duel' with US-made defenses
Russia is scaling up its production of Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missiles, which Russian President Vladimir Putin previously put forward as a possible duel contender against US missile defense systems. Putin told a graduating class of military cadets on Monday that Russia is accelerating production of the Oreshnik missile, which was first used against Ukraine in November. "Serial production of the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system is under way," said Putin in the televised address, per Reuters. With a range of up to about 3,415 miles, the Oreshnik is capable of reaching targets across Europe and even the western United States. Putin has said that the missile is nearly impossible to intercept and can carry a destructive force comparable to that of a nuclear weapon. After the Oreshnik was used to strike Ukraine's Dnipro region in November, Putin said there were "currently no ways of counteracting this weapon," per the BBC. Putin has previously made claims about how unstoppable certain Russian missiles are, only to see them downed in combat a short while later. A missile duel In December, Putin proposed a "duel" with the US to show the Oreshnik's alleged supremacy over US-made systems. "We're ready for such an experiment," he said. But Michael Bohnert, a defense analyst at RAND, told Business Insider that while the missile's range and speed pose challenges, its practical impact might be overstated. "When it comes to the ability of Oreshnik missiles and bypassing defenses, the fundamental issue with missile defense is not capability but the quantity and location of missile defenses tailored to the threat," he said. "Oreshnik missiles are incredibly expensive for their limited conventional warhead size and quantity," he added. "While it has the range to target many locations without matching air defenses, its literal kinetic impact would still be low for the cost." However, Bohnert said that the missiles do force the need for "more matching air defenses to protect critical infrastructure." Grace Mappes, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, argued that the Oreshnik does not represent a major shift in Russia's military capabilities. She told BI that Russia has other missiles with comparable ranges and greater payloads. "Russia regularly strikes Ukraine with nuclear-capable missiles and has long had missiles in mainland Russia and Kaliningrad capable of striking NATO states," she said. "These capabilities have not changed," she added. "Russia is just using the Oreshnik to make an old threat upon which Russia has never acted seem new."
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Putin goes full throttle on hypersonic missiles as Israel, US strike Iran sparking World War III panic
Russia to Surge Oreshnik Hypersonic Missiles Production Live Events Vladimir Putin Says Hypersonic Missiles Are 'Impossible to Intercept' Fear of World War III Grows FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Russian president Vladimir Putin has revealed that he has planned to increase the production of hypersonic missiles after the tensions in the Middle East escalated, and now there is a looming fear of World War III, as per a a press conference, the Russian president shared his plans of producing more Oreshnik hypersonic missiles to be prepared in case a full-swing war breaks out, as per The Mirror report. The missiles reportedly have an intermediate range and were first used when Russia attacked Ukraine, according to the emphasised that the missile had "proven itself very well in combat conditions," as quoted by Reuters in a report. He also highlighted that "Serial production of the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system under way," as quoted in the READ: Big news you missed: Israel blows up gate to Iran's notorious Evin Prison to free Khamenei's critics According to The Mirror report, the missile, also known as the Hazel tree missile, was used when Russia attacked Ukraine on November 21, 2024. During that strike, the arsenal was aimed at a defence building in the city of Dnipro and caused major significant destruction to it, as per the Russian president also pointed out that he had approved of the missile strike after Ukraine started to use ballistic missiles that were produced in the United States, which was just before former US president Joe Biden left the White House after his term ended, according to The Mirror report. Putin even had blamed the United Kingdom for allowing Ukraine to use cruise missiles that had been produced in the country to strike targets in Russia, reported The Oreshnik missiles, which is expected to be ready to use in the latter half of this year, can reportedly hit targets, which are as far as 3,415 miles away and would also be able to strike targets across Europe and even the ones in the western US, as per the report by The a previous press conference, Putin had asserted that the Oreshnik was "impossible to intercept," and even emphasised that the missile could even damage buildings like a nuclear weapon, however, military analysts have cast doubt over his reported claim, according to the READ: Aurora Borealis forecast: Northern Lights to light up skies in US this week - to be visible in these states today His move to ramp up production of the Oreshnik missiles comes after Iran attacked the American military bases in neighbouring Qatar on Monday in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to drop "bunker buster" bombs at nuclear sites in the country over the weekend, reported The READ: New York City Mayoral Primary: How long will New Yorkers wait for mayoral primary results with ranked choice voting? Due to rising global tensions, especially after the US conducted military strikes on Iran amid the ongoing war between Israel and says they can cause damage like nuclear weapons, but experts remain doubtful about this extreme claim.
