During a Defense Ministry board meeting on December 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that his nation holds the global lead in hypersonic weaponry. The statement, based on two specific systems either in service or under development, positions Russia at the forefront of an arms competition with the United States. Putin emphasized that no other country has operational hypersonic weapons, according to a Kremlin transcript of his remarks.
One of these systems, the Kinzhal missile, is already deployed. This nuclear-capable, air-launched ballistic missile has a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers and travels at 10 times the speed of sound, according to Russian experts.
It is designed to strike both land targets and naval vessels and can carry either a nuclear or conventional warhead. The second system is the Avangard, a hypersonic glide vehicle that Putin described as “a weapon of the future.” Flying within the atmosphere at Mach 20—20 times the speed of sound—the Avangard has a continental range. Putin claimed it can penetrate “both existing and prospective missile defense systems,” a capability that forms the core of Russia’s argument that its weapons are nearly impossible to intercept due to their speed and maneuverability.
The United States has not matched this claim. The Pentagon has expressed concern, with a Defense Department statement acknowledging the challenge of developing defenses against hypersonic threats.
No U.S. hypersonic weapon is currently operational, though multiple programs are in development. American officials have questioned whether existing missile defense systems can counter this new threat. Russia has been developing these systems for years.
The Kinzhal entered service prior to the December meeting, while the Avangard is described as prospective, meaning it is still being readied. Putin’s remarks at the board meeting served as a status report to his defense establishment, indicating that investments have yielded results.
The strategic implications are significant. A missile traveling at Mach 20 can cover 2,000 kilometers in roughly 10 minutes, compressing decision time for radar detection, tracking, and interception. Existing missile defenses, designed for slower ballistic trajectories with predictable arcs, may be ineffective against a glide vehicle that can change course. Putin did not mention specific U.S. programs or Congressional funding debates.
He simply asserted a lead that is difficult to verify independently. Russia has not released flight test data or shown the Avangard in action, though the Kinzhal has been photographed on MiG-31 fighters, and the Avangard has been tested at least twice, according to Russian state media.
The December 28 meeting was a routine year-end defense review. Putin used it to draw a line, telling his generals that Russia possesses what other countries do not. Whether this lead holds depends on how quickly the United States can field its own hypersonic weapons.
For now, Putin says Russia is alone at the top.
