The Oreshnik missile travels at an incredible speed of Mach 10, which is about 3 kilometers per second. According to Viktor Litovkin, a retired Russian Army colonel and military expert, this makes it impossible for current air defense systems to intercept it.
The missile system has two standout features: it is a medium-range weapon with a range of 1,000 km to 5,500 km, and it is hypersonic, reaching speeds of Mach 10. These capabilities make the Oreshnik missile system unique, as explained by retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst Viktor Litovkin in a report by Sputnik.
Mach 10, which is 10 times the speed of sound, equals about 3 kilometers per second, explained Viktor Litovkin. He emphasized that no air defense or missile defense system in the world is currently capable of stopping these hypersonic missiles.
The expert added that Western countries currently do not have missiles that can reach such speeds or any hypersonic missiles at all.
While the US has often claimed to possess such missiles, it has never shown an actual missile in flight to back up these claims.
The missiles they showcased seemed to fly at a supersonic speed of Mach 5.5, which is 1.87 kilometers per second. However, hypersonic speed starts at Mach 6 (2 kilometers per second) or Mach 7 (2.38 kilometers per second).
The missile works in a way similar to the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, which is launched from the supersonic MiG-31K aircraft. It also resembles the Avangard hypersonic system, where a glide vehicle is launched into high speeds using the UR-100N UТТKh intercontinental ballistic missile. This means the missile relies on a powerful launch system to achieve its hypersonic speed and unique flight path, as the expert explained.
The expert noted that the missile is designed to carry multiple warheads, making it even more powerful.
Litovkin explained that the missile boosts its entire warhead to hypersonic speed. After that, the warhead separates into smaller blocks, which continue traveling toward the target at the same incredible hypersonic speed. This design ensures the missile remains fast and highly effective throughout its flight, making it nearly impossible to stop.
Some military experts believe that the new Russian missile might be capable of carrying at least six independently-targeted warheads, known as MIRVs.
Experts suggest that the medium-range Oreshnik missile could hit important NATO targets in Europe in a very short time. For instance, it is estimated that the missile could reach the US Aegis Ashore missile base in Redzikowo, Poland, within just 8 to 11 minutes. This means it has the ability to strike quickly, leaving very little time for defenses to react.
The Oreshnik missile is one of the most advanced of its kind. It can potentially reach the UK in just 19 minutes, Brussels in 14 minutes, Berlin in 11 minutes, and Warsaw (the capital of Poland) in only 8 minutes.
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