Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the deployment of the new ‘Oreshnik’ intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, accompanied by statements that have raised questions about the impact that this weapon can have on the panorama of nuclear war.
The Oreshnik was first tested at the end of November in a attack on a defense factory in Dnipro, Ukraine. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, the missile carried six warheadseach with the capacity to deploy six submunitionsthus increasing its destructive capacity.
The missile has a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometersa range prohibited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed between the United States and the Soviet Union, from which Washington withdrew in 2019 citing Russian violations.
Putin believes the missile can prevent a nuclear conflict
Putin signaled on Tuesday that Russia has no intention of changing its , recently updated to justify a nuclear attack in response to conventional aggression backed by nuclear powers. “We are improving our nuclear doctrine, not strengthening it. In essence, now what we need is to improve the Oreshnik missile, not the nuclear doctrine“Putin noted.
In this sense, he emphasized that the development of weapons like the Oreshnik could end the need for the use of nuclear weapons. “A sufficient number of these next-generation weapons systems will truly eliminate the need for the use of nuclear weapons”he stated in .
Experts doubt the role of the weapon in the war
The development of the Oreshnik has generated divided opinions among experts. Sabrina SinghPentagon deputy press secretary downplays the Oreshnik’s strategic impact on the battlefield, calling it another attempt to cause damage in Ukraine. “If Russia decides to launch this type of missile, it will not change the rules of the game”he said recently before warning about .
John Erathfrom the Center for Arms and Proliferation Control, rules out that the missile modifies the rules of nuclear wardescribing it more as a intimidation tool. “They already have the ability to launch nuclear weapons wherever they want.”
For their part, analysts from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) highlighted that the use of the Oreshnik, together with drones and other missiles, constitutes a tactical tool in the winter, but does not significantly alter long-range strategic calculations.
What is the Oreshnik like?
The Oreshnik is believed to be a Improved version of the RS-26 “Rubezh” intermediate-range ballistic missile from Russia, combined with elements ofl Bulava missiledeveloped in Moscow during the 1990s.
An infographic titled “The new Russian Orehsnik missile” created in Ankara.
In addition to highlighting the power of the Oreshnik and stating that its deployment reduces the relevance of nuclear weapons, Putin highlighted that this missile can reach a speed of Mach 10, that is, ten times the speed of sound. However, Ukrainian officials claimed that the missile reached Mach 11marking the first known use of an ICBM in combat.
They are ability to maneuver in flight at extreme speeds This is what classifies it as a hypersonic missile. But it is not only characterized by its speed, but also by its ability to performr precise strikes and deploy warheads over wide geographic areas.
The Oreshnik operates as a MIRV system (multi-target reentry vehicle) from the Cold War era, meaning it can transport several warheads intended for different specific targets.
