Putin says Russian Navy closer to getting hypersonic weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said Russia’s navy is preparing to equip its ships with hypersonic weapons, Reuters reported.

“The widespread deployment of advanced digital technologies that have no equals in the world, including hypersonic strike systems and underwater drones, will give the fleet unique advantages and increased combat capabilities,” Putin said Sunday at a St. Petersburg parade intended to highlight Russian naval technology.

The Kremlin’s defense ministry also said in a separate statement that it was currently testing the Belgorod, the country’s first submarine that can be equipped with the Poseidon nuclear drone.

“Work is being successfully completed to create modern weapons systems for the Navy,” it said, according to the news service.

The statement comes the year after Putin, who has said Moscow does not seek an arms race, said the Kremlin would deploy hypersonic missiles on ships and submarines outside U.S. territorial waters if the U.S. deploys intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe, which the U.S. has not announced any intention to do.

Putin said in his remarks that the Russian navy would get 40 new ships this year, although he did not offer specifics on when the navy would receive the new hypersonic weapons, according to Reuters.