the essential
The Orechnik, a Russian hypersonic missile capable of carrying nuclear charges, marks an escalation in the arms race between Moscow and Ukraine. With a range of 3,000 to 5,500 km and a dizzying speed of Mach 10, it could be used by Russia in the coming days. Here's what you need to know about this formidable weapon of war.
Is Moscow preparing to use a supersonic weapon again against Ukraine? This is what Washington said on Wednesday December 11. According to a senior American official, Russia could launch its latest generation Orechnik missile “in the coming days”, capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Used for the first time in Ukraine on November 21 (without nuclear charge), it illustrates the intensification of the arms race between Moscow and kyiv.
A formidable reach
An intermediate-range ballistic missile (3,000 to 5,500 km), the Orechnik can theoretically reach all of Europe and the west coast of the United States.
Impressive speed
Vladimir Putin claims that the Orechnik missile can reach a speed of Mach 10, or approximately 12,350 km/h (2.5 to 3 kilometers per second). Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) estimates that it even exceeded Mach 11, reaching nearly 13,600 km/h, during the final phase of its firing on November 21, making its interception very difficult.
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War in Ukraine: “comparable to nuclear weapons”… Putin threatens to strike decision-making centers in kyiv with the Orechnik missile
Origins and abilities
From the RS-26 Roubèj program, the Orechnik was relaunched in 2023 after the end of the INF Treaty in 2019. Equipped with maneuvering charges and multiple independent warheads, it is designed to thwart anti-missile defenses.
