Putin Unleashes Hypersonic Missile — Mass Production

Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile enters mass production, capable of striking targets 3,425 miles away with speeds of Mach 10 while evading NATO defense systems.

Key Takeaways

• Russia has begun full-scale production of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which can reach speeds of Mach 10 and carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.
• The missile has a range of up to 3,425 miles, allowing it to target locations across Europe and parts of the western United States.
• President Putin claims the weapon can penetrate any US defense system, though Western officials remain skeptical about Russia’s current production capabilities.
• The Oreshnik was first used operationally in November 2024 against a defense facility in Dnipro, Ukraine, as a retaliatory measure.
• Russia may deploy the missile to Belarus by 2025, potentially escalating tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.

Putin’s New Strategic Weapon Enters Production

Russia has officially commenced serial production of its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile system, a development that significantly enhances Moscow’s strategic capabilities amid escalating tensions with the West. The missile, which combines advanced speed, range, and payload capacity, represents a substantial leap in Russia’s military arsenal. President Vladimir Putin announced the production milestone following the weapon’s combat debut in Ukraine, emphasizing its battlefield effectiveness. The Oreshnik is a solid-fuel, mobile-launched intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range between 1,000 and 5,500 kilometers, derived from the RS-26 Rubezh and incorporating elements of the Bulava missile.

“Serial production of the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system is under way,” said Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.

Unprecedented Capabilities and Strategic Implications

The Oreshnik missile system boasts several advanced features that pose significant challenges to Western defense systems. Capable of reaching speeds of Mach 10 (approximately 7,672 mph), the missile combines hypersonic velocity with advanced maneuverability and low radar visibility, making interception extremely difficult if not impossible. It can deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) carrying either nuclear or conventional warheads. The missile’s deployment platform, the Belarus-made MZKT-7930 “Astrolog” transporter-erector-launcher, provides high mobility, allowing for rapid deployment and repositioning to avoid counter-strikes.

“Putin has also repeatedly underscored the strategic potency of the system, stating that the Oreshnik’s destructive force is “comparable to a nuclear weapon” and that its speed and maneuverability make it “impossible to intercept”. A claim that, while questioned by some Western analysts, is difficult to fully disprove without access to classified intercept data,” said Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.

The missile’s introduction comes at a strategically significant time, following the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This treaty breakdown has allowed Russia to develop and deploy previously prohibited missile systems. The Oreshnik’s range of up to 3,425 miles means it can target not only all of Europe but also parts of the western United States when optimally positioned. This strategic reach fundamentally alters the military balance of power and complicates NATO’s defensive planning, potentially requiring substantial investments in counter-hypersonic capabilities.

Battlefield Debut and Production Challenges

The Oreshnik made its combat debut in November 2024, striking a defense facility in Dnipro, Ukraine. Russia characterized this strike as a retaliatory measure against Western-backed operations inside Russian territory. The missile’s operational use came as a surprise to many Western intelligence agencies, indicating Russia’s ability to develop advanced weapons systems despite international sanctions. Putin has claimed the deployment was specifically in response to US and British cruise missiles used against targets within Russian territory, escalating the proxy nature of the Ukraine conflict.

Despite Putin’s confidence in the Oreshnik’s capabilities, Western defense analysts remain skeptical about Russia’s ability to mass-produce these sophisticated missiles under current sanctions. Technological bottlenecks and supply chain disruptions pose significant challenges to large-scale production. US officials have downplayed the missile’s significance, suggesting Russia possesses only limited quantities of the weapon. Nevertheless, even a small number of these missiles could serve as powerful strategic deterrents and psychological warfare tools, potentially influencing NATO decision-making regarding support for Ukraine.

Future Deployment and Global Security Implications

Russia may deploy the Oreshnik to Belarus by 2025, significantly increasing security concerns for NATO’s eastern flank nations. Such a deployment would place much of Europe within immediate striking range of these hypersonic weapons. The missile’s production and potential deployment represent a calculated response to geopolitical tensions and appear designed to strengthen Russia’s military deterrence capabilities. This development comes amid stalled Russian advancements in Ukraine and continued aerial attacks causing civilian casualties, suggesting a pivot toward strategic pressure rather than conventional battlefield victory.

“Another example of Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities,” said Farah Dakhlallah, NATO spokesperson, regarding Russia’s use of advanced missile systems in Ukraine.

The introduction of the Oreshnik could potentially trigger a new arms race, with NATO nations accelerating development of counter-hypersonic technologies and their own advanced missile systems. This escalation underscores the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to prevent further deterioration of the international security environment. President Trump’s administration now faces the challenge of formulating an effective response that protects American interests while avoiding dangerous escalation. The Oreshnik represents a significant shift in strategic warfare, emphasizing speed, range, and unpredictability as key elements of modern military deterrence.