03 Putin's 'super weapons' | Chatham House – International Affairs ...


A new report by Chatham House, looking at Russia's military capabilities and its use of the internet, has warned that Putin's new superweapons could pose an existential threat to NATO nations.


In the midst of a tense standoff with the US, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled a number of new weapons in late 2018. These included 'super weapons' that could evade global missile defense systems and render NATO helpless.


Putin's 'super weapons'


The former KGB spy has put an emphasis on the development of "super weapons", notably hypersonic aircraft and rocket engines. Putin also claims that Russia has developed a new generation of strategic nuclear weapons that would make them more powerful than ever before.

A new report by Chatham House, looking at Russia's military capabilities and its use of the internet, has warned that Putin's new superweapons could pose an existential threat to NATO nations.


In the midst of a tense standoff with the US, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled a number of new weapons in late 2018. These included 'super weapons' that could evade global missile defense systems and render NATO helpless.


Putin's 'super weapons'


The former KGB spy has put an emphasis on the development of "super weapons", notably hypersonic aircraft and rocket engines. Putin also claims that Russia has developed a new generation of strategic nuclear weapons that would make them more powerful than ever before.


In this exclusive briefing, Chatham House experts analyse the new weapons systems Vladimir Putin is developing, and how these technologies could impact global security.


Putin's plans for a superweapon are real. In this article, Chatham House explains the Russian president's real plan to build super weapons and how it does not fit with the Geneva Conventions.


The Russian leader has said that the United States and its allies need to "provide adequate answers" if they want to avoid a new Cold War. Putin did not specify what those answers might be, but he did speak of Russia's "super weapons", which he claimed were capable of destroying an entire country in minutes.


It is difficult, however, to determine the precise nature of any such offensive. The Kremlin's possible plans for "super weapons" have been shrouded in secrecy and are subject to speculation. There have been rumours that Russia could attempt to make use of a laser weapon, known as terahertz radiation (commonly known as TIR), which can cause burns on human tissue when used in an assault by an aircraft.