MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. The Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which has been successfully combat-tested earlier, has been officially commissioned to the Russian Armed Forces, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the meeting with the Defense Ministry board, representatives of the military-industrial complex and missile weapon designers in the Kremlin.
The head of state thanked the missile’s developers, congratulated them with their success and informed them that they will be honored with state awards. He also disclosed that several new systems of this kind are currently in the works for further testing.
Here are the key statements, made during the meeting.
The weapon’s specifications
The Oreshnik is not an upgraded version of previous versions dating back from the Soviet times; it is in the line of the latest and modern developments.
"We do have a stockpile of such products, such systems, which are ready to be used," Putin said.
The Oreshnik is another reliable guarantor of Russia’s territorial integrity, he noted, adding that the recent combat test of the missile was successful.
"We will continue these trials, including in combat environment, depending on the situation and security threats to Russia," Putin said.
No one in the world can boast of having such a missile system as Russia’s Oreshnik: "Yes, it will appear in other leading countries sooner or later. We know what kind of developments are being carried out there, but this will happen tomorrow or in a year or two, but we have such a system already today. And this is important."
"In fact, the Oreshnik system is not a strategic weapon. At least, it’s neither an intercontinental ballistic missile nor a weapon of mass destruction, particularly because it’s a high-precision missile," Putin said.
"I would like to underscore another aspect: the Oreshnik missile system is not simply an efficient hypersonic weapon. Due to its strike power, especially in case of massive, group launch, and in combination with other precision long-range systems, which Russia also has, the effect of its use against enemy targets would be comparable to strategic weapons," the Russian leader said.
The commissioning
"Considering the positive result of the recent launch, it is considered reasonable to commission the system and continue its further use with improvement of its specifications and training of personnel in its use and operation," Russian Strategic Missile Forces Commander Sergey Karakayev said.
"We will do just that," Putin replied.
High efficiency
Vladimir Putin ordered to develop an intermediate-range missile system in July 2023, Sergey Karakayev, commander of Russia’s strategic missile forces, noted during the meeting.
"The newest intermediate-range missile Oreshnik is unparalleled in the world; the missile’s combat equipment makes it possible for it to penetrate all the existing and promising missile defenses," Karakayev reported.
"This missile system with hypersonic blocks can hit any targets - from isolated to area-type, as well as highly-protected - with a high efficiency. Based on the tasks and the range of this weapon, it can hit targets across entire Europe, which sets it apart from other high-precision long-range weapons," the commander said.
Further perspectives
Russia’s defense industry is working to develop an entire line of intermediate-and shorter-range missiles, Putin announced.
"Once they undergo tests, these weapons will also go into serial production," the president said.
The development of such missiles systems as Oreshnik is vitally important for Russia "in the current situation, when we are facing new growing threats and challenges."
Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos is ready to increase the production of high-precision missiles and has all the resources for that, Roscosmos CEO Yury Borisov said.
"If need be, we have necessary reserves to increase the output," he said.
Russia’s defense sector is capable of equipping the country’s strategic missile forces with advanced weapons and systems up to 95%, Vasily Tonkoshkurov, first deputy chairman of the military industrial commission, said.
"The current production pace will make it possible to equip Russia's nuclear strategic nuclear forces with advanced weapons and systems by over 95% and by more than 82% as far as Russia’s aerospace forces are concerned," he noted.