Avangard Missile: Russia tests world's first hypersonic nuclear missile

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Europe

01:59

Russia says it has successfully tested a nuclear-capable missile that can fly some 20-times faster than the speed of sound. President Vladimir Putin says the test of the hypersonic missile is a 'Great Event' for Russia. Our correspondent Dan Ashby tells us the missiles are a warning to Moscow's adversaries.

A hypersonic nuclear weapon that can duck and dive mid-flight. This is the successful launch of Russia's "Avangard" warhead, - a missile that President Putin describes as a gift to Russia.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "The new Avangard missile system is invincible for today's and future air defence systems and missile defence systems. This is a big success and a big victory."

But for all Avangard's sophistication - it does not affect the balance of security. Russia's current nuclear arsenal can already penetrate US missile defenses. So Avangard is about the future.

PAVEL FELGENHAUER RUSSIAN DEFENCE EXPERT "They add nothing to the Russian arsenal. The big fear of the Russian military is that the US will develop defence shields that will nullify the Russian deterrent. But that's not happening now. That's not happening in 10 years. So this is kind of preparing something that's maybe important in 20 years."

Until then, both the US and Russia could destroy each other in a nuclear war. So far, there's no comment from the US.

DAN ASHBY MOSCOW "President Putin described the warheads as a New Year's gift to the Russian people, but their intended audience is the US - and this is a warning of Moscow's might. Because it is a gift that many hoped will never actually be opened or used. Dan Ashby, CGTN, Moscow."