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Russiaβs Oreshnik Missile: A New Chapter in Global Tensions
Russiaβs Oreshnik Missile
In an atmosphere of high-stakes international relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to go all in with the launch of the Oreshnik missile. On November 21, 2024, the world received a stark reminder that global tensions could escalate with the push of a button β or, in this case, a missile test launch targeting a military-industrial facility in Dnipro, Ukraine. The Oreshnik is no ordinary weapon; it is an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that reaches speeds up to Mach 10, leaving traditional defenses looking hopelessly outdated.
Note: Mach is a unit that measures speed relative to the speed of sound in air. Mach 10 means the missile travels ten times faster than sound, significantly complicating interception by defense systems.
For Putin, this was less of a weapons test and more of a blunt statement to the West: current missile defenses are inadequate against such speed.
Technical Specifications of the Oreshnik Missile
- Type: Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM)
- Speed: Up to Mach 10
- Warhead Type: Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs)