Putin Flaunted Five Powerful Weapons. Are They a Threat?<br />le heavy-duty nuclear energy unit," Mr. Putin said,<br />that can power a cruise missile so that it could achieve "basically an unlimited range." Such a technology could evade American defenses and alter the balance of power. that a small-sca<br />The Trump Nuclear Posture Review, released in early February, makes the first known federal reference to this Russian weapon, calling it "a new intercontinental, nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered, undersea autonomous<br />torpedo." After years of development, this technology was successfully tested in December, according to Mr. Putin, who called it "really fantastic." The United States appears to have nothing similar.<br />Mr. Putin said such superfast missiles have been tested successfully<br />and begun trial service.The video shows what appears to be a possible test launching from a military jet.<br />, is this true?" Mr. Putin said the nuclear cruise missile had been tested successfully late last year. that The question is<br />The Sarmat has not been deployed, but "the Defense Ministry<br />and enterprises of the missile and aerospace industry are in the active phase of testing," Mr. Putin told his audience.The video opens with footage from what appears to be a test site.<br />Mr. Putin said Russia had successfully tested the novel warhead technology, capable of travel at 20 times the speed of sound.<br />Russia has a new class of weapons, President Vladimir V. Putin said on Thursday, that could make American defenses obsolete.
