If attacked, Russia wouldn't hesitate to respond with a nuclear strike, Putin warns

Russia has developed supersonic and unstoppable nuclear missiles that risked to anew arms race between Moscow and the United States

Russia has warned the United States that it has developed new high-tech nuclear weapons including supersonic missile, underwater drones, and hypersonic system that could overcome any defenses. 

Addressing his state-of-the-nation speech on Thursday, Vladimir Putin said, “Efforts to contain Russia have failed, face it. In a nearly two-hour address, he illustrated with video clips of the new arms, which included underwater drones, intercontinental missiles and a hypersonic system he said “heads for its target like a meteorite”.

The unusual display of military might was the most dramatic element of the speech, which started with pledges to deliver a “decisive breakthrough” to boost living standards and raise spending on health and infrastructure. 

Mr. Putin used the annual address to lay out priorities for the fourth presidential term he is expected to win easily in elections this month. But the toughest language was aimed at the US.

He added, to applause, that names for the nuclear-powered cruise missile and the drone haven't yet been chosen, and suggested that the Defence Ministry-run a nationwide contest for the best names.

"No one in the world has anything like that," he said. "It may appear someday, but by that time we will develop something new."

The Russian leader said that another new weapon called Avangard is an intercontinental hypersonic missile that would fly to targets at a speed 20 times the speed of sound and strike "like a meteorite, like a fireball."

He said that the weapon is capable of performing sharp maneuvers on its way to targets, making it "absolutely invulnerable for any missile defense system."

Mr. Putin said that Russia also tested a new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, called Sarmat, adding that its range allows it to fly over both the North and the South poles to reach any target. He said it carries more nuclear warheads than its Soviet-era predecessor, known in the West as Satan.

He said that another new weapons system, called Kinzhal, already has been deployed in Russia's Southern Military District. He added that it's a hypersonic missile carried by aircraft that flies at a speed 10 times of the speed of sound and has a range of 2,000 kilometers away.