Tests of Russia's Zircon hypersonic cruise missile are nearing completion and deliveries to the navy will begin in 2022, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
"Tests of the Zirkon sea-based hypersonic cruise missile are nearing completion. During testing, it accurately, in full compliance with the task, hit both land and sea targets from an underwater position and from surface ships. Next year these missiles will be supplied to the Russian Navy," said Putin.
He added that the tests confirmed the unique characteristics of laser systems Peresvet and Avangard and Kinzhal hypersonic complexes.
According to the president, it is especially important to develop and introduce the technologies needed to create new hypersonic weapons systems, high-power lasers, and robotic complexes that will be able to effectively counter potential military threats. "This means that they will further strengthen the security of our country," Putin concluded.
Military security
Putin said that the development of advanced weapons for decades has ensured a high level of Russia's military security.
"Today we will discuss how the army and navy are being equipped with systems based on new physical principles. The creation in our country of laser, hypersonic, kinetic and other weapons that have no analogs in the world was a real breakthrough in military technology, seriously, many times increased the capabilities of the armed forces, for many years, even decades, provided a high level of military security for Russia," Putin said.
He added that the creation of such weapons also helped to strengthen strategic parity. "Today, the development and serial production of such effective, high-tech, innovative weapons is one of the key areas of development of the armed forces," the president stressed.
The head of state noted that such developments require time, additional efforts, and finances. "Behind each of the samples is the long, painstaking work of thousands of our scientists, engineers, programmers and other specialists. I have repeatedly noted that thanks to the Russian military-industrial complex, our fundamental and applied science, a very serious headway has been made in this direction," summarized Putin.
Artificial intelligence
In addition, Putin said that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the troops is becoming a priority, these technologies can provide a qualitative breakthrough in improving the combat characteristics of weapons.
"I will emphasize a fundamental point. The application of artificial intelligence technologies is of paramount importance in the creation of these and other advanced types and samples of weapons," he said, referring to hypersonic systems.
According to Putin, AI technologies should provide "a qualitative breakthrough in improving the combat characteristics of weapons." "Such technologies should also be more actively used in troop and weapons control systems, communication and data transmission means, as well as high-precision missile systems," the head of state believes.
The introduction of artificial intelligence technologies is no less important, he continued, in creating advanced robotics with a higher degree of autonomy, in providing control of drones, as well as deep-sea vehicles. "All these priorities and tasks should be fully reflected in the new state armament program until 2033," the president stressed.
Putin added that the development of documents of the unified system of initial data for its formation in the Ministry of defense of the Russian Federation is already underway. "The key, basic task here is to ensure that the promising weapons and equipment to be produced and supplied to the troops as part of its implementation will provide reliable protection of Russia from potential threats," he concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS