Putin declared that the new "avant-garde" missile flying at 27 times the speed of sound - has become operational in Europe • Fears: "It's a weapon that leaves no room for error"
Imaginary Speed. Missile "avant-garde" // Photo: EPA
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday that the new "avant-garde" supersonic missile has become operational, and European weapons experts fear the renewal of the nuclear arms race is endangering the entire world. According to Moscow, the new missile flies at 27 times the speed of sound, and can also change its trajectory along the way, "so no missile defense system can take it off the air."
"The duty of proof on the Russians is to show that the new missile is capable of this almost imaginative performance," says Dutch weapons expert Siko van der Mir of the Klingendaal Research Institute for the Dutch television network NOS. "It is known that the arms race is partly built on" bluffs "as part of the balance of terror between the powers.
Van der Mir explains that for decades the Russians have been looking for a way to tip the arms race in their favor, since Americans under George W. Bush's presidency have built missile defense systems. "Until then, the Russians relied primarily on their nuclear missiles to exert international pressure, but these have become worthless since missile interception systems. Now, with the new missile, they are changing the balance sheet in their favor."
Propaganda and fear
On the day after the Russian declaration, Western weapons experts doubt whether the Russian missile had actually become an operative, or that it was an advanced stage in the experiment of the system. Van der Mir shares these doubts. "Obviously, the Russian message is also intended for propaganda needs for Americans," he said. "For example, during a press conference last year, Putin announced all kinds of weapons that appeared to come from science fiction and did not exist in reality, such as a nuclear-powered missile that could fly in theory until the end of time."
Reopens the arms race. "Avant-garde" takes off // Photo: AP
However, van der Mir believes that in the case of the "avant-garde" the Russians are not far from reality. "They've been working on it for quite a few years now. Other countries like the US, China and India have been working on supersonic weapons - this is the newest gadget in the weapons market. But to substantiate their claims, they will now have to prove that the rockets work structurally. "
The arms race resumes
According to Van der Mir, the indirect American answer to the new Russian threat is Trump's announcement of the creation of the new "Space Force," designed to fight less and more aliens in the Russians. "Trump has stated on the space force so that the U.S. military can allegedly operate on several fronts at the same time," he explains. "In such a rapid arms race, states may consider whether the risk of escalation is too great or too expensive, and sign new agreements. It is above all leaders. We saw it during the Cold War with Reagan and Gorbachev, who developed trust that eventually led to the charter INF in 1987 ”.
There is no margin for error
Either way, the new missile from the Russians is "bad news for world security," says Van der Mer. "The risk of escalation between world powers is only increasing. If such a weapon is accidentally launched, a world war will immediately erupt. It is almost impossible to stop such a supersonic weapon, even if it is accidentally launched."
Putin in the new missile control room // Photo: AFP
Van der Mer refers to a recent study by American Princeton University. Researchers at the University have simulated a hypothetical situation in which Russia launches a missile with a nuclear warhead - for deterrence only. According to the simulation, in the five hours following the warning, more than 91 million people will die in the United States, Russia and the NATO allies. "With such weapons, there is no time to correct mistakes," says Van der Mer. The weapons, but these are bad news for the rest of the world. "