Putin hails \'successful\' test of new hypersonic missile

Putin hails 'successful' test of new hypersonic missile

AFP  |  Moscow 

Russian on Wednesday hailed final tests of a hypersonic missile, which he earlier said would render existing obsolete.

"On my instructions, the prepared and conducted a final test of this system. This has just been completed with absolute success," Putin said during a televised meeting with members of the

"has a new type of strategic weapon," he said, adding that the intercontinental "Avangard" system would be ready for use from 2019.

agencies the test had taken place in far eastern Kamchatka while Putin was at the

Putin unveiled features of the Avangard during his annual address in March, which he said would be part of a new generation of "invincible" weaponry.

The hypersonic could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manoeuvre up and down, meaning it could breach defence systems, he said at the time.

The final test comes after US announced plans to pull out of a key Cold War-era nuclear weapons pact, the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

Putin has laid out plans to develop missiles banned under the deal if the abandons it.

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First Published: Wed, December 26 2018. 19:05 IST