Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed on Sunday that the Russian fleet is capable of detecting and destroying "any target," during the grand naval parade he attended in Saint Petersburg. In a televised speech, Putin stated, "Today, the Russian fleet has everything necessary for the steady defense of the nation and our national interests. We can detect any enemy target underwater, on land, or in the air and deliver a decisive strike if necessary."
He added that Russia has earned its place among "the major maritime powers" by developing "effective maritime aviation for both short and long-range missions, reliable coastal defense systems, and the latest high-precision weaponry that surpasses the speed of sound and is unparalleled in the world, which continues to be improved regularly and successfully."
Putin delivered his speech on the sidelines of the annual grand naval parade on the Neva River in Saint Petersburg, the second-largest city in the country. Against the backdrop of heightened tensions with the West, Putin has continued in recent years to praise new "invincible" Russian weaponry.
Among these weapons is the new generation "Avangard" missile, which exceeds the speed of sound and can fly at a speed of Mach 27, capable of changing its trajectory and altitude, which the Russian military commissioned in December 2019. There is also the "Zircon" missile, which flies at Mach 7 and was successfully tested in July.
Additionally, there are numerous other weapons such as the hypersonic "Kinzhal" missile for the air force and the nuclear-powered "Burevestnik" missile currently under development. Modern air defense systems, the S-500, have also been successfully tested and described as "unmatched in the world" on July 20.
