Putin has stated that Russia is now the global leader in hypersonic missiles and the advanced developments that have been added to them. He also made the point that by the time other countries catch up, Russia is likely to have developed technology to counter any new weapons. Hypersonic weapons move at extreme speeds in low altitudes, presenting difficulties for missile defense systems. They are undetectable on traditional radar systems, prompting great worry for other nations at their ability to deter possible strikes. While the true extent of Russian capabilities with these weapons is unknown, their recent tests are enough reason for concern.

“Hypersonic” in itself means flight at a speed faster than five times the speed of sound. The first manufactured object to achieve this was the two-stage Bumper rocket. Soon, humans attempted to travel at this speed in rockets and airplanes. Recently, the hypersonic regimen has been a point of interest for many countries’ defense sectors as the weapons are maneuverable and essentially undetectable. According to Reuters, the shape of hypersonic weapons allows them to effectively maneuver toward a target or away from defenses. These weapons add an unpredictable element of surprise that threatens every nation across the globe.

On Sunday, a documentary film called “Russia: New History” aired, which is where Putin made these claims. In addition, he emphasized that Russia is “definitely the leader” in hypersonic missiles as well as the scale of upgrades in traditional weapons. According to Reuters, U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III commented that Russia, China, and the U.S. are all in a race to build hypersonic weapons. The comments by Putin are likely to prompt further research and testing of the weapons by these two other superpowers, as the concern over Russia grows.

These types of weapons pose great threats to other nations as most warning systems can not detect them. Hypersonic weapons like Russia’s Zircon fly so fast and low that they can penetrate traditional anti-missile defense systems. According to Foreign Policy, the Russian Navy is planning on getting these hypersonic missiles in 2022. Putin’s comments are being viewed as a signal to the west of their growing power, especially amongst current Russia-Ukraine tensions. Russian troops have been building upon Ukraine’s border and these missiles send a message against any nations sending support into Ukraine.

This arms race is likely to continue as other superpowers like the U.S. and China work to have the same capabilities that Russia claims. The U.S. had fallen slightly behind in hypersonic research but with Russia and China serving as large motivators, is now leading a new charge with extra funding. Russia appears confident in its hypersonic abilities and that other militaries will be unable to catch up. These three superpowers in an arms race with hypersonic weapons raise extreme concern as these are lethal and would be in the possession of potential aggressors.