Examining all of Vladimir Putin’s nuclear boasts

Published March 2, 2018 12:02pm ET



RUSSIA’S ‘INVINCIBLE’ ARSENAL: In his speech to the Russian Federal Assembly in Moscow yesterday, President Vladimir Putin claimed that his weapons engineers had successfully produced a new crop of cutting-edge nuclear missiles and drones that cannot be defended against. Here’s a quick guide, according to Putin’s own description:

The Sarmat ICBM: Putin says Russia will be replacing its heaviest intercontinental missile with an even heavier version that has a longer range. “Weighing over 200 tons, it has a short boost phase, which makes it more difficult to intercept for missile defense systems,” Putin said yesterday. “Sarmat will be equipped with a broad range of powerful nuclear warheads, including hypersonic, and the most modern means of evading missile defense.”

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