NATO Jets And Warships Approaching, President Putin: Tsirkon And S-500 Hypersonic Missiles Strengthen Russia Next Year

Presiden Vladimir Putin bersama Menteri Pertahanan Rusia Sergei Shoigu dan Kepala Staf Jenderal Valery Gerasimov Wikimedia. (Commons / Kremlin.ru / Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation)

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin said two of Russia's newest weapons, the Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile, and the latest S-500 missile defense system will strengthen Russia's military next year, with the presence of fighter jets and NATO warships in waters with Russia.

In his remarks on the sidelines of a defense industry meeting, President Putin said the tests of the Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile were nearing completion and would arrive for the Navy starting next year.

"The Tsirkon cross-sea hypersonic cruise missile tests are coming to an end. During the tests, the missiles hit land and sea targets from submerged positions and surface ships accurately and according to their assigned tasks. Starting next year, these missiles will start arriving for service in the Russian Navy", President Putin was quoted as saying by TASS on November 4.

"The trials perfectly confirmed the unique properties of the Peresvet laser weapons, the Avangard and Kinzhal hypersonic systems", added President Putin.

Illustration of the Russian military test-firing the Tsirkon hypersonic missile from the Admiral Gorshkov Russian frigate. (Ministry of Defense Press Office via TASS)

Earlier, the Russian president said Moscow's newest S-500 air defense system would be introduced to the country's armed forces next year.

Additional units of the previous generation S family system, 26 S-400, and S-350 will also be delivered to the Russian army, he told a meeting in the coastal city of Sochi.

"This is required by the general military and political situation, including the increasing intensity of NATO flights near Russia, and the emergence of alliance ships with guided missiles in the Baltic and the Black Sea waters", he said, referring to the presence of US ships in the Black Sea, citing Yenisafak.

Washington's plans to deploy medium and short-range missiles in Europe pose an additional 'grave danger and threat' to Russia, he said. To that end, the Russian army must maintain its high combat capability and be well equipped to maintain a strategic balance, Putin said.

Test firing of the Russian S-500. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense Press Office)

Despite the strength of the aerospace and air defense forces, President Putin called for upgrading and re-equipping the navy with the latest weapons.

"The work on renewing the fleet is very important, strategic, and important for Russia", he said.

President Putin said at this time it was very important to develop and introduce the necessary technologies to create new hypersonic weapons systems, power-enhanced lasers, and robotic platforms that would be able to ward off potential military threats.

"And this means they will further enhance the security of our country", he concluded.