supersonic cruise missile in the world

How hypersonic missiles work and the unique threats they pose – an aerospace engineer explains

Director, Center for National Security Initiatives; Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder

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An updated version of this article was published on May 24, 2023. Read it here .

Russia used a hypersonic missile against a Ukrainian arms depot in the western part of the country on March 18, 2022. That might sound scary, but the technology the Russians used is not particularly advanced. However, next-generation hypersonic missiles that Russia, China and the U.S. are developing do pose a significant threat to national and global security.

I am an aerospace engineer who studies space and defense systems, including hypersonic systems. These new systems pose an important challenge due to their maneuverability all along their trajectory. Because their flight paths can change as they travel, these missiles must be tracked throughout their flight.

A second important challenge stems from the fact that they operate in a different region of the atmosphere from other existing threats. The new hypersonic weapons fly much higher than slower subsonic missiles but much lower than intercontinental ballistic missiles. The U.S. and its allies do not have good tracking coverage for this in-between region, nor does Russia or China.

Destabilizing effect

Russia has claimed that some of its hypersonic weapons can carry a nuclear warhead. This statement alone is a cause for concern whether or not it is true. If Russia ever operates this system against an enemy, that country would have to decide the probability of the weapon being conventional or nuclear.

In the case of the U.S., if the determination were made that the weapon was nuclear, then there is a very high likelihood that the U.S. would consider this a first strike attack and respond by unloading its nuclear weapons on Russia . The hypersonic speed of these weapons increases the precariousness of the situation because the time for any last-minute diplomatic resolution would be severely reduced.

It is the destabilizing influence that modern hypersonic missiles represent that is perhaps the greatest risk they pose. I believe the U.S. and its allies should rapidly field their own hypersonic weapons to bring other nations such as Russia and China to the negotiating table to develop a diplomatic approach to managing these weapons.

What is hypersonic?

Describing a vehicle as hypersonic means that it flies much faster than the speed of sound, which is 761 miles per hour (1,225 kilometers per hour) at sea level and 663 mph (1,067 kph) at 35,000 feet (10,668 meters) where passenger jets fly. Passenger jets travel at just under 600 mph (966 kph), whereas hypersonic systems operate at speeds of 3,500 mph (5,633 kph) – about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) per second – and higher.

Hypersonic systems have been in use for decades. When John Glenn came back to Earth in 1962 from the first U.S. crewed flight around the Earth , his capsule entered the atmosphere at hypersonic speed. All of the intercontinental ballistic missiles in the world’s nuclear arsenals are hypersonic, reaching about 15,000 mph (24,140 kph), or about 4 miles (6.4 km) per second at their maximum velocity.

ICBMs are launched on large rockets and then fly on a predictable trajectory that takes them out of the atmosphere into space and then back into the atmosphere again. The new generation of hypersonic missiles fly very fast, but not as fast as ICBMs. They are launched on smaller rockets that keep them within the upper reaches of the atmosphere.

Three types of hypersonic missiles

There are three different types of non-ICBM hypersonic weapons: aero-ballistic, glide vehicles and cruise missiles. A hypersonic aero-ballistic system is dropped from an aircraft, accelerated to hypersonic speed using a rocket and then follows a ballistic, meaning unpowered, trajectory. The system Russian forces used to attack Ukraine, the Kinzhal , is an aero-ballistic missile. The technology has been around since about 1980.

A hypersonic glide vehicle is boosted on a rocket to high altitude and then glides to its target, maneuvering along the way. Examples of hypersonic glide vehicles include China’s Dongfeng-17 , Russia’s Avangard and the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike system. U.S. officials have expressed concern that China’s hypersonic glide vehicle technology is further advanced than the U.S. system.

A hypersonic cruise missile is boosted by a rocket to hypersonic speed and then uses an air-breathing engine called a scramjet to sustain that speed. Because they ingest air into their engines, hypersonic cruise missiles require smaller launch rockets than hypersonic glide vehicles, which means they can cost less and be launched from more places. Hypersonic cruise missiles are under development by China and the U.S. The U.S. reportedly conducted a test flight of a scramjet hypersonic missile in March 2020.

Difficult to defend against

The primary reason nations are developing these next-generation hypersonic weapons is how difficult they are to defend against due to their speed, maneuverability and flight path. The U.S. is starting to develop a layered approach to defending against hypersonic weapons that includes a constellation of sensors in space and close cooperation with key allies . This approach is likely to be very expensive and take many years to implement.

With all of this activity on hypersonic weapons and defending against them, it is important to assess the threat they pose to national security. Hypersonic missiles with conventional, non-nuclear warheads are primarily useful against high-value targets, such as an aircraft carrier. Being able to take out such a target could have a significant impact on the outcome of a major conflict.

However, hypersonic missiles are expensive and therefore not likely to be produced in large quantities. As seen in the recent use by Russia, hypersonic weapons are not necessarily a silver bullet that ends a conflict.

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The World’s First Hypersonic Cruise Missile Will Fly 20 Times Faster Than the Competition

Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) will be the first scramjet-powered weapon to enter production.

• Unlike most cruise missiles, however, this one travels way faster than the speed of sound , with the capability to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5.
• Exactly how fast the new Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile will be remains a mystery.

The Pentagon has plenty of cruise missiles in its arsenal, from the long-serving Tomahawk to the new JASSM-ER . But a new missile set to enter service in 2027 is radically different: the new Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) will fly up to 20 times faster, giving adversaries little time to escape its wrath. HACM will be the first mass-produced weapon to use air-breathing scramjet engines.

Raytheon and Northrop Grumman won a contract worth $985 million to develop the world’s first hypersonic cruise missile. HACM, developed for the United States and Australia, is an air-launched hypersonic cruise missile designed to quickly strike targets on the ground. Under the terms of the contract, the Pentagon should see the first operational missiles in 2027.

In 2020, the U.S. and Australia jointly began the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment partnership, or SCIFiRE. Named after the constellation that appears on Australia’s national flag, SCIFiRE was meant to develop an air-breathing hypersonic weapon system designed to be carried on both U.S. and Australian aircraft, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet , F-35A Joint Strike Fighter , P-8A Poseidon aircraft, and others. The contract will mature the Raytheon SCIFiRE prototype into an actual weapon system.

HACM is a tactical weapon designed to be used on day one of a large-scale conventional conflict . “HACM will provide our commanders with tactical flexibility to employ fighters to hold high-value, time-sensitive targets at risk while maintaining bombers for other strategic targets,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said in an Air Force statement last week.

Traditional cruise missiles are basically pilotless aircraft. Like many aircraft, turbofan engines power cruise missiles, propelling them at subsonic speeds. Cruise missiles fly low to avoid radar detection, and a slower speed helps them fly lower and hug the ground. Tomahawk cruise missiles , for example, fly at an altitude of between 98 and 164 feet at a speed of 550 miles per hour.

HACM is a hypersonic weapon, which means it flies at Mach 5 or faster—but we don’t know exactly how much faster it will fly. Most missiles that remain in the atmosphere, like air-to-air missiles , top out at around Mach 3+. SCIFiRE was descended from the earlier HIFiRE program , which tested a scramjet engine at speeds up to Mach 8.

HACM will be the world’s first operational weapon system to use a scramjet engine . Like turbofan engines, scramjets scoop up oxygen from the surrounding atmosphere to use as fuel. One key difference between the two is that a turbofan engine scoops up oxygen at subsonic speeds, while a scramjet scoops it up at supersonic speeds. More oxygen means more fuel for the scramjet engine, which enables it to propel the missile even faster. According to NASA , scramjet engines should work to at least Mach 15. That translates to 11,509 miles per hour, or fast enough to circle Earth in about two hours.

Hypersonic weapons are the new hotness in warfare. Most of the avowed nuclear powers have technically had hypersonic weapons for a half-century or more, as the ballistic missiles that carry nuclear warheads travel at hypersonic speeds, impacting their targets at up to 15,000 miles per hour. This new generation of hypersonic weapons is different in that it is non-nuclear in nature—at least so far—and would be used immediately in a conventional war.

There’s a lot we don’t know about HACM. We don’t know how fast it really flies, or how far it flies. All we know is it is small enough to be carried by a fighter jet and will be ready by 2027. One thing is for sure: HACM is awkward and we need a better name for it.

Kyle Mizokami is a writer on defense and security issues and has been at Popular Mechanics since 2015. If it involves explosions or projectiles, he's generally in favor of it. Kyle’s articles have appeared at The Daily Beast, U.S. Naval Institute News, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, Combat Aircraft Monthly, VICE News , and others. He lives in San Francisco.

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Here Are 10 Things You Need To Know About BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

The brahmos supersonic cruise missile is difficult to be intercepted by surface to air missiles deployed on leading warships around the world..

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has been jointly developed with Russia.

Here is your 10-point cheatsheet to the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile:

The BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile of its class in the world.

BrahMos missile flies almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8 and has a range of 290 km.

The missile has been jointly developed with Russia and is named after the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva in Russia.

The BrahMos has been inducted into the Navy and Army from 2006 onwards but the latest version is more versatile.

Unlike warships, a BrahMos armed Sukhoi-30 can fly 1,500 kilometres in the direction of a hostile target out at sea.

The BrahMos is extremely difficult to be intercepted by surface to air missiles deployed on leading warships around the world.

The range of the BrahMos missile can be extended up to 400 km as certain technical restrictions were lifted after India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime or MTCR in 2016.

BrahMos missile is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India's Su-30 fighter aircraft.

The project is expected to be completed by 2020.

The capability of the Indian Air Force to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target in sea or land is expected to go up manifold once the project is completed. 

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Brahmos Missile

World’s fastest supersonic cruse missile by brahmos aerospace.

The Brahmos missile is the fastest medium-range stealth ramjet supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. The BAPL ( BrahMos Aerospace ) is a joint venture company of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) based in India.

The Brahmos is a fire-and-forget weapon system designed to neutralize a wide range of targets with pin-point accuracy. It provides multi-platform launch capability, allowing it to be launched from aircraft, ships, submarines, or land-based vehicle-mounted mobile launchers.

The Brahmos missile is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world, developed in a joint venture between the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization ( DRDO ) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, which together have formed BrahMos Aerospace.

The induction of Brahmos is a complete game changer for the Indian Armed Forces. The missile, due to its stealth features, is very difficult to track, and its Mach 3 supersonic speed leaves very little reaction time to deploy the countermeasures.

The DRDO is constantly upgrading the lethality of the missile in terms of speed, range, and stealth features. The air-launched variant of the Bhramos missile has been primarily designed for the Su-30 MKI fighter jets operated in large numbers by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

This integration of Brahmos on the Su30 MKI is already complete and has been successfully tested a number of times, hitting the targets with pin-point accuracy. The DRDO is also currently working on other lighter variants that can be integrated on single-engine fighter jets such as the HAL Tejas.

BrahMos Missile General Features

Brahmos Missile Design Features

The missile design is based on a two-stage solid propellant booster engine. The first stage is fired first, which gives initial lift-off and takes the missile to supersonic speed before it is separated. The second stage is fired after the first stage, which takes the missile to Mach 3.

The missile design is based on the Russian P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship cruise missile used by the Russian navy. The DRDO has incorporated cutting-edge technology and many advanced features into the missile design. It is said to be the world’s fastest anti-ship cruise missile currently in operation.

The land-based, vehicle-mounted, and surface-launched variants of the Brahmos missile are already in service. An air-launched variant of BrahMos started testing in 2012 and entered service in 2019. However, only the Su30 MKI airframe can support the heavy weight of the missile.

The DRDO is developing a hypersonic version of the missile, BrahMos-II, with a design speed of Mach 7. The hypersonic variant will significantly boost the aerial fast-strike capability of the Indian Air Force. It is expected to be ready for testing by 2024.

Brahmos Stealth Technology

The Brahmos missile design incorporates the latest stealth technology, artificial intelligence (AI), a sophisticated guidance system, and advanced embedded software to provide the missile with unmatched capability and advanced features.

The missile has a flight range of up to 290 km with supersonic speed during the entire flight, which brings a substantial reduction in the missile’s flight duration.

The shorter flight time and supersonic speed over Mach 3 are a lethal combination that provide a huge combat punch to this missile. The missile’s features and speed make it almost impossible to track and engage with any known missile defence system currently available in the world.

BrahMos Missile Variants

The DRDO and BrahMos Aerospace are working on a number of variants of the Brahmos missile, considering the requirements of the Indian Air Force , Indian Army , and Indian Navy . The DRDO is also incorporating the latest cutting-edge technology into the future design.

The Brahmos NG is the next-generation, light-weight (1500 kg) variant of the missile. The NG variant is specially designed for single-engine fighter jets such as the HAL Tejas . Similarly, the hypersonic variant of the Brahmos is also currently under development.

BrahMos-II is a hypersonic variant of the cruise missile currently under development. It will have a range of up to 600 kilometers and a speed of Mach 8. It is going to be the fastest hypersonic missile in the world.         

Next Generation Brahmos Missile

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. It is considered one of the world’s fastest cruise missiles and has a range of around 300 km. The missile is named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers in India and Russia respectively.

As for the next generation of BrahMos missile, the developers are currently working on the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) missile, which is an advanced version of the existing BrahMos missile. The BrahMos-NG is expected to be smaller, lighter, and more manoeuvrable than the original BrahMos missile, making it even more lethal and difficult to detect.

The BrahMos-NG will have a range of around 450 km, which is an improvement over the existing BrahMos missile’s range. It is also expected to have a higher speed than the original missile, with a reported top speed of Mach 3.5.

The BrahMos-NG will also feature advanced guidance and navigation systems, making it more accurate and able to hit targets with greater precision. It will also be capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, making it an even more formidable weapon.

The BrahMos-NG is expected to be a significant upgrade over the existing BrahMos missile, and it is expected to become operational in the next few years.

Strategic Significance Of Brahmos Missile For India

BrahMos missile is a key component of India’s defense strategy, providing the country with a potent deterrent against potential adversaries, long-range strike capabilities, and a high degree of versatility.

It has also helped India develop its indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities and expand its strategic partnerships. The BrahMos missile holds immense strategic significance for India, for several reasons.

• Deterrence : The BrahMos missile is a potent deterrent against potential adversaries, particularly those who may pose a threat to India’s national security. With its high speed and accuracy, the missile can hit targets deep within enemy territory, making it a formidable weapon.
• Long-range strike capability : The BrahMos missile has a range of around 300 km, which gives India the capability to strike targets far beyond its borders. This makes it an important weapon for power projection and to defend against potential attacks.
• Versatility: The BrahMos missile can be launched from land, air, and sea-based platforms, giving it a high degree of versatility. This means that it can be deployed in a wide range of scenarios and can be tailored to meet specific operational requirements.
• Indigenous development : The BrahMos missile has been jointly developed by India and Russia, but a large part of the missile’s components are manufactured in India. This has given India the capability to produce high-tech weaponry domestically, which is a significant strategic advantage.
• Export potential : The BrahMos missile is in high demand from other countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This provides India with an opportunity to expand its strategic partnerships and enhance its defense exports.

India Sold BrahMos Missiles To Philippines

Philippines has signed a contract with India to purchase BrahMos missiles, making it the first international customer for the missile system. India has already delivered first few consignments of the missile and Philippines navy personnel has already undergone training in India.

This is a significant development for both countries, as it underscores India’s growing defense ties with Southeast Asian countries and reflects the Philippines’ efforts to modernize its defense capabilities in the face of growing security challenges in the region.

The acquisition of the BrahMos missile system will give the Philippines a potent weapon against potential threats in the region, particularly China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. The missile’s high speed, range, and accuracy make it a formidable weapon, capable of hitting targets deep within enemy territory.

Regarding the possible deployment of the BrahMos missile in the South China Sea, it would depend on several factors, including the Philippines’ defense needs and threat perception, as well as the broader geopolitical context of the region. Any such deployment would likely be viewed as a provocation by China and could escalate tensions in the region.

The sale of the BrahMos missile to the Philippines reflects India’s growing defense exports and expanding strategic partnerships in the region. It also highlights the Philippines’ efforts to enhance its defense capabilities and deter potential threats in the region.

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Supersonic Naval Cruise Missile For Norway, Germany In The Works

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 29, 2023 4:45 PM EST

7 minute read

The governments of Norway and Germany have teamed up to develop a new supersonic naval “super missile” to arm warships belonging to both countries. A supersonic naval strike missile, which could potentially be used against targets ashore and at sea, would represent a major capability boost for both the Norwegian and German navies.

Norwegian defense contractor Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, which is now leading the project, announced the bilateral missile development effort last week. The missile is currently known as the SuperSonic Strike Missile (3SM) and by the nickname Tyrfing, a magical sword from Norse mythology.

Details about the 3SM are, so far, scant. However, a rendering that Kongsberg has released, seen at the top of this story, has a large air intake under the nose. This is a design feature often associated with ramjet and scramjet engines , though a ramjet would be more in line with Tyrfing being a supersonic design. Ramjets and scramjets are also often linked to missiles and other air vehicles with very high supersonic or even hypersonic speeds. Hypersonic speed is defined as anything about Mach 5.

However, ramjets and scramjets do not work effectively at lower speeds. Missiles and other platforms that use these kinds of engines therefore need some way to get to an optimal speed first, typically a rocket booster of some kind. Booster rockets are often just a common component of missiles fired from ships as a byproduct of the design of the launch system, as well.

The 3SM’s strakes along the middle of its body and control fins only at the tail end are also features commonly found on other high-speed missile designs . This type of arrangement helps retain stability in flight and provide lift, but with lower drag than a configuration with additional fins elsewhere along the body.

How the 3SM would be guided to its targets, or even what those targets might be, is unclear. Kongsberg has described the weapon as a “naval strike missile,” rather than an anti-ship missile. Kongsberg currently makes something called the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a stealthy subsonic design that is primarily an anti-ship missile, but that also has a secondary land-attack capability .

NSM achieves this via the use of a mixture of GPS, inertial navigation system (INS), and terrain recognition to navigate to a target area, or to strike a specific set of coordinates, and an imaging infrared seeker for terminal homing against ships. Imaging infrared guidance has the benefit of being immune to radiofrequency jamming and other countermeasures intended to disrupt seekers in that spectrum.

Tyrfing could have a similar or even more flexible multi-mode guidance system. The conical nose cone seen in the rendering of the SM3 is indicative of a radar seeker.

Interestingly, U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman showed off a Maritime Strike Missile concept at the Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space conference earlier this year that seems similar in many respects, in form and function, to the 3SM design.

Whatever the exact specifics of the design might be, a supersonic strike missile would be a major boon for the navies of Norway and Germany.

The Norwegian Navy currently has two types of ships, its four Fridtjof Nansen class frigates (a fifth was lost in an infamous collision with a commercial tanker in 2018) and six Skjold class corvettes , which can employ the aforementioned NSM. This is the only surface-launched anti-ship cruise missile currently in service in Norway.

The German Navy has four Brandenburg class and three Sachsen class frigates that are armed, in part, with U.S.-made RGM-84 Harpoon subsonic anti-ship missiles .

Another five Braunschweig class corvettes are also in German service, and five more are set to be acquired in the coming years. These ships can fire Swedish-designed RBS 15 Mk 3 anti-ship cruise missiles, another subsonic design that also has a secondary land-attack capability. In October, it emerged that the German Navy is also planning to refit the Brandenburg class frigates with these missiles.

Harpoon and RBS 15 are both aging designs, though significantly improved variants of both types have been developed and fielded over the years. You can read more specifically about the work still being done to expand Harpoon’s capabilities here . NSM is a much more modern missile all around, and is growing in popularity around the world, including in the U.S. military , but is also still subsonic.

A supersonic missile can cover longer distances in a far shorter amount of time, shrinking the total time required between when the decision is made to engage a target and when the first weapon arrives. This can be particularly valuable for striking time-sensitive targets before they leave a certain area.

An opponent similarly has less time to react to an incoming supersonic missile in any way. On top of any stealthy or other design features to make the weapon more survivable, its speed increases the difficulty in attempting to intercept it, too.

Kongsberg says it sees the 3SM as a complement to the NSM. Arming a ship with both types of these missiles (or Tyrfings and another type of subsonic maritime strike missile) could increase its flexibility, allowing for the use of the supersonic weapons only against targets that require its distinct capabilities. 3SMs could also be layered together with subsonic cruise missiles, which could present additional challenges for defenders who would be facing a wave of incoming threats with different flight profiles.

There is also the possibility that 3SM, or variants or derivatives thereof, could be adapted to be launched from land-based platforms or aircraft, as well as be optimized for non-maritime target sets. NSM, for instance, is also available in ground-launched configurations, including one the U.S. Marine Corps is in the process of fielding . Kongsberg’s air-launched Joint Strike Missile (JSM), which evolved from the NSM and was developed in cooperation with Raytheon in the United States, is another good example of this kind of follow-on development.

That Norwegian and German authorities have kicked off the 3SM project now makes sense in many ways, too. The countries are both NATO members and are currently presented with a host of serious existing and emerging national security challenges close to home and further abroad. NATO, as a whole, has seen its role just in and around Europe be completely revitalized as a byproduct of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine.

Late last year, Norway notably announced that its armed forces would step up patrols around the country’s offshore oil and gas installations. This came in the wake of explosions that left the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea seriously damaged, as well as reports of worrisome drone activity near some of Norway’s offshore platforms.

Norway is also an Arctic country with major interests in the increasingly strategic High North. Russia , as well as China , along with many of Norway’s allies and partners, including the United States , are increasingly seeing the potential for new economic opportunities, and competition , as Arctic ice recedes due to global climate change.

Germany is separately looking to have an increasingly pronounced military presence in the Pacific region as part of a broader Western push to challenge Chinese influence. Defense News reported just on Monday that the German Air Force is planning to take part in a number of major exercises across the Pacific next year.

Kongsberg’s announcement about the 3SM missile also highlighted economic benefits for both countries from the development and production of these weapons, which could also eventually be exported to other nations.

There are supersonic cruise missiles already in service, like Russia’s P-800 Oniks (and the BrahMos derivative co-developed with India) and China’s YJ-12 , which both present threats and have been important drivers for other countries to pursue their own capabilities in this regard. The United States, for instance, is also looking toward new supersonic or even hypersonic anti-ship missiles .

“The Norwegian defense industry, with Kongsberg at the forefront, has unique expertise and produces world-class missiles. The project will continue to extend this strategically important expertise, so we can continue to develop missiles that are attractive to other NATO countries and close allies,” Norway’s Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said in a statement along with the initial announcement about the 3SM project last month.

“The new strike missile project will ensure that Norway retains its position as a world leader in missile production, based on seamless cooperation between industry, governments, and research establishments,” Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, also said at that time. “The project will create new Norwegian jobs, while offering Norway and its allies improved defense capabilities.”

All this being said, the 3SM still looks to be years away from entering service. Kongsberg says it currently hopes the missile will be “ready” – it’s unclear if this refers to the completion of the development, the delivery of the first missiles, or the weapons actually being in service – by 2035.

Whatever the case, Norway and Germany have now at least made the first step forward to acquiring a new and more capable maritime strike capability for their respective warships.

Contact the author: [email protected]

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Germany approves funds to develop supersonic weapon, buy thousands of missiles

BERLIN — Germany’s parliament has authorized money for the purchase of thousands of missiles and the development of a supersonic naval cruise missile, according to a Defence Ministry news release.

Germany will join forces with Norway in developing the supersonic Tyrfing missile. A key parliamentary committee released the funds Wednesday for Berlin’s first foray into developing modern naval missiles. Currently, most of the country’s naval missile arsenal is French- or American-made.

Although Norway and its state-owned arms manufacturer Kongsberg will take a leading role, the German government expects to contribute about €650 million (U.S. $695 million) to the project between now and 2033.

A new missile for Norway and Germany will be known as 3SM Tyrfing and is scheduled to be ready in 2035. (Kongsberg)

The contract, which is to conclude by August, will see Diehl Defence and MBDA perform work on the German side.

At least initially, Germany’s half will be funded from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s special fund for the military. That money was put together in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In later years, the money is to come out of the regular defense budget.

Kongsberg describes the Tyrfing as a “new super missile” that will succeed the Naval Strike Missile developed in the early 2000s. The 3SM — an abbreviation for Super Sonic Strike Missile — should be ready in 2035, the company said in a news release late last year.

In addition to Norway and Germany, Kongsberg hopes the missile will have export potential to other “European armed forces.”

Weapons purchase

The German budgetary committee also approved the purchase of up to 3,266 Brimstone 3 rockets for delivery by 2033 under a contract expected to be passed by the parliament next month.

Initially, the country will receive 274 missiles and the requisite equipment, purchased from MBDA Germany for about €376 million. An additional 29 Brimstones will be used for operational testing and 75 further for training and telemetry.

The rockets are destined for the country’s Eurofighter fleet, which forms the fighting backbone of its Air Force. Berlin first announced its intention to procure the air-to-ground missile in 2017.

The British Royal Air Force has used the Brimstone family of missiles for nearly two decades, including in war zones in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. A contingent of German Eurofighters is also deployed in the Baltics, where they serve to strengthen NATO’s posture at its flank with Russia.

Aside from entirely new purchases, the parliamentary budget committee also approved the procurement of 506 Stinger man-portable air defense systems worth about €395 million as a replacement for 500 of the ground-to-air, shoulder-launched missiles that were sent to Ukraine.

Germany has taken a leading role in supporting Kyiv’s armament, sending more military support than any other country except the United States. According to the Germany-based Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the government has sent €10.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine as of the end of April 2024.

Linus Höller is a Europe correspondent for Defense News. He covers international security and military developments across the continent. Linus holds a degree in journalism, political science and international studies, and is currently pursuing a master’s in nonproliferation and terrorism studies.

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Which Countries have Hypersonic Missiles in 2024?

In September 2020, India reportedly became fourth in ranking behind China , Russia and the United States of countries to research and test defense weapons. This took place after successful practice with a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).

The HSTDV test missile that India sent out traveled six times faster than the speed of sound. Military scientists still work toward improving the stability of this artillery. However, India drafted a five-year plan to develop a hypersonic missile after their favorable deployment outcome.

Purpose of Hypersonic Missiles

The test that India conducted may make a way for launching smaller satellites that cost less to develop in the past. Note, however, that other hypersonic missiles sent out reached speeds of 10 times as fast as sound. However, six times as fast apparently is a “good start.”

The agility and swiftness of hypersonic missiles provide governments that might use them a significant advantage. For instance, these weapons could dodge just about any other defensive military weapon out there. What’s more, they seem to have demonstrated increased maneuverability during testing sessions.

Reports of Additional Countries Involved

More than the top four countries mentioned, including India, have joined the hypersonic missile initiative. Russia may have the most experience with defense weapon in general, if not with hypersonic missile testing.

United States

The United States currently carries out the development or testing of hypersonic weapons. The country set a goal to early operational capability of one system this year, which could happen. The Pentagon proposed a $3.8 billion budget for hypersonic weapon research in 2022.

China is researching hypersonic cruise missiles and glide vehicles, according to US military officials. At least one missile capable of transporting the defense weapons currently operates.

China doesn’t seem to have as much experience as Russia though. Still, the country reportedly conducted hundreds of defense missile tests from 2016-2021 in Beijing . One of the latest launch announcements took place in October 2021.

Russia began hypersonic weapon technology research in the 1980s. Recent tests performed by this country took place within days of a March 22, 2022, report published by VOA News.

Russia inherited the reputation of becoming the first nation to deploy hypersonic weapons in combat. They reportedly aimed at least one missile toward a Ukraine target in March 2019.

The weapon that Russian officials said they fired in 2019 classifies as a Kinzhal missile they shot from a military plane. However, the country also declared possession of the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle. Moreover, news of ship-launched cruise missile development called the Tsirkon also was released.

North Korea

North Korea reportedly conducted two hypersonic missile tests so far this year in 2022 and achieved successful outcomes. One of these launches took place on January 5, and the other occurred on January 11.

Other Countries

Australia , France , Germany and Japan also started to pursue hypersonic weapon development. Iran , Israel and South Korea reportedly have started conducting foundational research on hypersonic weaponry.

• Table includes only hypersonic weapons that have reportedly been completed as of July 2023. Still-in-development weapons such as Japan 's Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) are excluded until such time as they are considered deployed.
• In some cases, the weapon's functionality has been announced by the developing country but has not been publicly demonstrated.

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How many countries have Hypersonic missiles?

Frequently asked questions.

• What Are Hypersonic Weapons and Who Has Them? - VOA News
• The Physics and Hype of Hypersonic Weapons - Scientific American
• Hypersonic weapon - Wikipedia

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Fastest Hypersonic Cruise Missile in the World: Must-Know Things for UPSC IAS Preparation

Used against terrestrial targets, missiles that stay in the atmosphere and the major part of the path is flown at an approximately constant speed, is termed cruise missile.

Categorized by speed, size, range, launching area such as air/ land/ submarine/ surface ship, cruise missiles are divided into six types. The categories of cruise missiles are Hypersonic, Supersonic, Intercontinental-range Supersonic, Long-range Subsonic, Medium-range Subsonic, Short-range Subsonic.

Presently there are many supersonic cruise missiles in the world, many are still in the development stage. In this article, you will get to know about the fastest cruise missile in the world and also get information about some of the fastest hypersonic missiles in the world. So, let’s waste no more time and scroll down to know all about these missiles.

Also Read: Earn While You Learn Scheme: Key Takeaways for Your UPSC Preparation

Fastest Supersonic Cruise Missile in the World

Presently, the BrahMos missile is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world which is designed and developed to be launched from ships, aircraft, land or submarine. India and Russia is jointly engaged in the development of the BrahMos missile. This is also the fastest cruise missile in the world.

The BrahMos Aerospace was formed by India’s DRDO and Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The name “BrahMos” was formed by joining the names of two rivers of India and Russia; Moskva of Russia and Brahmaputra of India.

# On 12 June 2001 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), the Chandipur BrahMos missile was first test-fired. It was the surface-to-surface variants.

# The first test-firing of the submarine-launched variant of Brahmos took place on 20 March 2013  from a submerged pontoon near Visakhapatnam at the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

# Against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal from a Sukhoi-30MKI, BrahMos-A, the air-launched variant was successfully test-fired for the first time on 22nd November 2017.

What is a Hypersonic Missile?

A missile travels at Mach 5 or higher, which is five times faster than about 1 mile per second or the speed of sound (3836 mph). Some missiles, such as Russia’s planned Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile, are said to be capable of Mach 10 (7672 mph) speeds with ranges of up to 1200 miles.

The US Tomahawk cruise missile, which is the go-to long-range missile weapon for the US Navy and the Royal Navy, is subsonic, travelling at roughly 550 mph and covering a maximum range of around 1500 miles.

What is Hypersonic Cruise Missile?

This missile reaches its target with the assistance of a high-speed jet engine that permits it to fly at speeds exceeding Mach-5. It’s non-ballistic, in contrast to standard Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), which rely on gravitational forces to reach their target.

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What is Hypersonic Glide Vehicle?

Re-entry vehicles are used in this sort of hypersonic missile. The missile is launched into space on an arching trajectory, after which the warheads are released and descend at hypersonic speeds towards the atmosphere.

Rather than relying on gravitational forces to deliver the payload, as is the case with traditional ICBMs, the warheads are attached to a glide vehicle that re-enters the atmosphere and, thanks to its aerodynamic shape, can ride the shockwaves created by its own lift as it exceeds the speed of sound, giving it enough speed to overcome existing missile defence systems.

The glide vehicle glides through the atmosphere between 40 and 100 kilometres above ground level, relying on aerodynamic forces to get to its destination.

Fastest Hypersonic Missiles in the World

Presently there are only three hypersonic weapons in the world that are soon to be put in service. Hypersonic missile countries like Russia, China and the USA are constantly working on this technology and recently India also joined the league by successfully test-firing HSTDV.

World’s Fastest Cruise Missile List:

#3M22 Zircon Missile

#Shaurya Missile

#BrahMos II

Which Country Has Hypersonic Technology?

The United States, China, and Russia have the most sophisticated capabilities, while France, India, Germany, Japan, Australia, and North Korea, which claims to have launched a hypersonic missile, are all exploring the technology.

Russia’s Avangard is a glide vehicle that will purportedly carry a nuclear payload and will be fired from an intercontinental ballistic weapon.

China: Over the summer, its military may have completed two hypersonic weapons tests, including the launch into space of an orbiting hypersonic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear payload. The DF-17, a medium-range ballistic weapon designed to deliver hypersonic glide vehicles, has undergone several successful tests in China.

The US Navy is leading the development of a glide vehicle that can be used by all arms of the military, while the Air Force is working on an air-launched glider.

India: The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have both developed and tested technologies.

India’s Development in Hypersonic Technology?

DRDO recently successfully flight-tested the Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), which can fly at 6 times the speed of sound . In Hyderabad, the DRDO also established a Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility. It’s a pressurised, vacuum-driven free jet facility that replicates speeds between Mach 5 and 12.

India has previously proved its capability in space assets with the ASAT test done as part of Mission Shakti. The HSTDV is a hypersonic scramjet demonstration aircraft that is unmanned.

It’s being built as a carrier vehicle for hypersonic and long-range cruise weapons, but it’ll also be used for a variety of civilian purposes, including the low-cost launch of tiny satellites. The Defence Research and Development Organisation is in charge of the HSTDV programme (DRDO).

Also Read: CSTO UPSC: Learn about the History, Objectives, Members and More

What is the Significance?

They’re typically described as low-flying, fast, and highly manoeuvrable weapons that are too fast and nimble for standard missile defence systems to identify in time.

Hypersonic weapons, unlike ballistic missiles, do not follow a fixed, arched trajectory and can manoeuvre on their way to their target.

They are extremely tough to defend against using present defences.

3M22 Zircon Missile

It is a scramjet-powered manoeuvring anti-ship hypersonic cruise weapon presently under testing by Russia. This one of the fastest hypersonic missiles in the world is designed with a lift-generating centre body.

This hypersonic weapon’s speed is around Mach 8 to 9 and has an operational range from 1000 to 2000 km, depending on the type of target. This is designed to be launched from submarine and surface ships.

From the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the Barents Sea, Zircon was first test-launched in January 2020 and was able to hit the ground target in Northern Urals. It also exceeded the distance of 500 km.

Shaurya Missile

Developed by the DRDO or the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation, this hypersonic surface-to-surface tactical missile has a range of 430 to 1,180 mi or 700 to 1,900 km. This was developed to be used in the Indian Armed Forces.

This missile’s speed is 7.5 times more than the speed of sound (Mach 7.5). It is designed with a two-stage solid rocket motor and has an operational range of 700 to 1900 km.

On 24th September 2011, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, Shaurya was test-fired for the third time where the full range of 700 km in 500 seconds was covered.

The hypersonic version of BrahMos is being developed by India and Russia. This one of the fastest hypersonic missiles in the world will be able to reach a speed of Mach 7 or 8575 km/h.

Ramjet engine will be replacing the scramjet engine in this version of the BrahMos. The operational engine is expected to be approximately from 450 to 600 km or from 280 to 370 mi.

It is expected to be tested by 2020.

List of some of the Cruise Missile in the World

# 3M22 Zircon by Russia

# 14-X by Brazil.

# BrahMos II by India and Russia.

# High-Speed Strike Weapon by the United States.

# Kh-90 by the Soviet Union/ Russia.

# DF-ZF by China.

Also Read: Constitutional Morality: Check Out the UPSC Notes and Prepare for the UPSC CSE!

List of Cruise Missiles in India

What makes hypersonic missiles different from other.

This missile’s speed is faster than 6,115 km per hour or 3800 miles per hour.

# These can deliver conventional or nuclear payloads within minutes.

# Hugely manoeuvrable.

# While travelling, these won’t follow predictable arcs.

# These have manoeuvring capabilities of cruise missiles along with the speed of ballistic missiles.

# Their high speed makes it hard to track, unlike traditional missiles.

UPSC IAS syllabus is wide and covers diverse topics. The current affairs section of the civil service exam plays a significant role in cracking the exam with good marks. One of the dynamic and important segments in the UPSC syllabus is defence. Many questions from this section have been asked in previous years. Aspirants should take good care of this section as questions from this part are mostly factual than conceptual.

The hypersonic missile is a hot topic these days and aspirants must keep themselves well aware of it. Hopefully, this article will help aspirants to gather enough information about the defence world. To know more about the latest current affairs, keep an eye on this page and keep preparing well for the upcoming exam. Best of luck!

Also Read: UPSC Online Application Form 2022: Latest Updates with UPSC Preparation and Strategy

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Ukraine war latest: Russia says it is considering nuclear shift - and tells West it is 'playing with fire'; US leads drills after North Korea warhead test

A senior Russian diplomat says Putin is reviewing the country's nuclear doctrine - and warns the West it is "playing with fire". Meanwhile, a Russian navy missile cruiser carries out drills in the Mediterranean. Listen to a Sky News podcast on Putin and North Korea while you scroll.

Friday 28 June 2024 08:56, UK

• US warned of 'dangerous illusions' as Russia mulls change in nuclear stance
• EU signs security agreement with Ukraine in Brussels
• Ukraine receives latest EU financial support package worth £1.6bn
• N Korea tests multiple warhead missile - as US leads drills after Putin-Kim pact
• Your questions answered : Has the West been honest about Ukraine's failures?
• Big picture : What you need to know this week
• Listen to the Daily above and tap here to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live updates by Katie Williams

Ask a question or make a comment

We're pausing our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for this evening.

Scroll through below to catch up on the latest developments.

Two people have been killed and two more are wounded as a result of Russian shelling in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, an official has said.

Vadym Filashkin, head of the regional military administration, said Russian forces struck the centre of Kurakhove city, killing a woman and a 40-year-old man.

Two injured people were taken to hospital, he said.

He added that the extent of the damage in the attack was being assessed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had a seemingly lively chat ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Brussels today.

It's not known what that the two men discussed - but relations between Budapest and Kyiv have become more strained since the Russian invasion in 2022.

Hungary is Russia's closest ally in the EU and Mr Orban has maintained a friendship with Vladimir Putin while criticising the EU's strategy on Ukraine.

In December, Mr Orban blocked a €50bn aid package for Ukraine in a move that frustrated other EU leaders. He lifted the veto several months later.

Two people have been injured in a Russian drone attack on southern Ukraine, an official has said.

The Kherson regional administration said Russian forces launched an attack on the village of Novodmytrivka, leaving a 66-year-old man and 71-year-old woman hurt.

Both have blast injuries and have been taken to hospital for treatment, it said on Telegram.

The US, Israel and Ukraine are all in talks to provide Ukraine with up to eight Patriot air defence systems, according to the Financial Times.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for NATO members to send his country the US-made Patriot systems as it battles intensifying Russian attacks.

The FT said the deal would likely involve Israel first sending the systems it plans to retire to the US, before they are handed over to Kyiv.

Sources with knowledge of the negotiations told the paper the outlines of the deal have been discussed between ministers and senior officials from each of the three countries.

Mr Zelenskyy said in May that Kyiv urgently needed at least seven more Patriot missile systems to ward off Russian strikes against its power grid, civilian areas and military targets.

Pictures have emerged this evening of the aftermath of Russia's latest airstrike on the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv.

Emergency services said earlier that five people were injured and buildings were damaged in the attack (see 17.55 post).

Russian forces launched an assault on a new front in Kharkiv in May, after months of fighting focused on the east.

Ukrainian troops have repelled Russian forces from a neighbourhood in the frontline town of Chasiv Yar, a Ukrainian military official has said.

Nazar Voloshin, a spokesman for the Khortytsia operational-strategic group, told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that Russian forces had been pushed out of the Kanal neighborhood in the east of the town.

Mr Voloshin claimed Moscow's forces were not slowing down in their push to break through in Chasiv Yar, and said two assault operations were ongoing.

"Ukrainian defenders reliably hold the defence in this area and give a decent rebuff to the Russian aggressor," he told the agency.

For context: Chasiv Yar, a strategically-important town in the eastern Donetsk region, has long been a Russian target.

It has been pummelled by Russian air, artillery and drone strikes for months now, as Moscow views the town as a gateway to launch direct offensives against several Ukrainian "fortress cities".

Chasiv Yar had a pre-war population of more than 12,000, but now only a few hundred residents remain.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged EU leaders to make good on their promises to provide his country with military aid after the bloc signed a security agreement underlining its support for Kyiv in the long term.

"Fulfilment of every promise is important, not only in terms of protecting lives but also to destroy the Russian illusion that they will achieve something by war," he said at the summit in Brussels today.

The Ukrainian president thanked countries that have so far promised equipment and arms aid, but pointed out that they were "needed urgently on the battlefield".

He also urged more help on "the urgent things - air defence, that is one".

The EU-Ukraine security agreement entrenches the EU's commitment to help Ukraine in nine areas of security and defence policy - including arms deliveries, military training, defence industry cooperation and demining,

In essence, it encapsulates what the 27-nation bloc has been doing for the country since the start of the war.

But the EU has made a specific commitment to the "predictable, efficient, sustainable and long-term provision of military equipment" for Ukraine.

Kyiv in return has promised to uphold European values and continue on its reform path in preparation to join the EU.

Five people have been injured in Russian airstrikes in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, according to emergency services.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine said the strikes hit a residential area of the region, partially destroying one building and damaging others - including a school - as well as cars.

Crews at the scene said five people were hurt.

The windows and gates of the local fire station were also damaged, the emergency service said.

While the apparent gains made by Russia during its spring offensive in Kharkiv were the focus of much of the news coverage of the way in May, a new report indicates any progress made by Vladimir Putin's troops came at a significant cost.

According to UK and other Western intelligence agency sources cited by the New York Times, more than 1,000 Russian soldiers were injured or killed each day last month.

However, the newspaper also cites US officials as saying Moscow is continuing to recruit between 25,000 and 30,000 new soldiers a month - roughly as many as it is losing from the battlefield.

American officials told the outlet that Russia achieved a critical objective of Mr Putin in creating a buffer zone along the border to make it more difficult for the Ukrainians to strike into the country.

But, the Western officials said, this did not threaten Kharkiv and was ultimately stopped by Ukrainian forces.

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump offers to ‘settle’ invasion as Biden calls Putin ‘war criminal’ at debate

LIVE – Updated at 09:47

Donald Trump has offered to “settle the war” in Ukraine started by Vladimir Putin as he suggested Russia would have never attacked its smaller neighbour if the US had a “real president” in the office.

“Before I take office on 20 January, I’ll have that war settled,” he said at the first presidential debate with Joe Biden .

However, Mr Biden called Mr Putin a “war criminal” and warned that if Russia is allowed to succeed, the Russian president would not stop at Kyiv. “He wants all of Ukraine. That’s what he wants,” Mr Biden said. “He’s killed thousands and thousands of people,” the US president said.

Mr Putin was repeatedly referenced by both US presidential candidates during Thursday’s election debate as they vied to show who was tougher on foreign policy. “Go ahead, let Putin go in and control Ukraine, and then move on to Poland and other places. See what happens then. He has no idea what the hell he’s talking about,” Mr Biden said of Mr Trump.

This comes as Ukraine’s military said its forces had forced Russian troops out of a district in the town of Chasiv Yar on the war’s eastern front seen as Moscow’s next target in its slow advance through the area.

Trump, Biden fight it out on Ukraine war at presidential debate

Russia mulling downgrading ties with ‘hostile’ west, kremlin says.

• Putin’s troops pushed out of part of key eastern town, says Ukraine

Ukrainian drone strikes fuel depot in Russia’s Tambov

Ukraine's zelensky scolds officials who shirk their duties in the country's war effort.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled Wednesday that he is getting tough on officials he suspects are shirking their duties in the war with Russia that is now in its third year.

Zelensky and Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi visited troops in the eastern Donetsk region who have weathered fierce Russian ground and air assaults in recent months. They also discussed with local officials the drinking water supply, social issues, evacuation plans and the rebuilding of local homes, Zelenskyy said.

He added that back in Kyiv he would speak to “officials who must be here and in other areas near the front line — in difficult communities where people need immediate solutions.”

Ukraine's Zelenskyy scolds officials who shirk their duties in the country's war effort

US to confront Russia at UN over North Korean weapons

The United States will confront Russia at the United Nations Security Council on Friday over violating a North Korea arms embargo, and will push for China’s view on growing ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, said deputy U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood.

The meeting of the 15-member council comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Pyongyang last week to sign a pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in which they agreed to provide military assistance if either faces armed aggression.

“This should be of great concern to the entire global community,” Mr Wood told Reuters ahead of the meeting, accusing Russia of “in essence siding with a rogue state to violate countless U.N. Security Council resolutions.”

“This is unprecedented, and we need to call it out for what it is,” he said. “We also want to see what China has to say about this growing military cooperation between DPRK and Russia. They cannot view this as a positive development.”

What to know from the first day of US journalist Evan Gershkovich's trial in Russia

Here’s a look at what we know about the first day of the trial for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich , who has been charged in Russia with espionage — charges that he, his employer and the US government deny.

Where was the trial held?

It was held on Wednesday in the Sverdlovsky Regional Court in the city of Yekaterinburg , about 880 miles (1,416km) east of Moscow . Gershkovich was arrested in the city in March 2023 while on a reporting trip.

Russian defence minister wants action to counter ‘provocations’ from US drones in Black Sea

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov has ordered the army’s General Staff to come up with proposals on how to promptly deal with “provocations” by U.S. strategic drones operating over the Black Sea, the defence ministry said on Friday.

The ministry said in a statement that it had noted increased activity in the area from U.S. drones which it said were carrying out reconaissance and gathering targeting information for high-precision Western weapons used by Ukraine to strike Russian facilities.

“This demonstrates the increasing involvement of the United States and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime,” the defence ministry said.

“Such flights multiply the likelihood of airspace incidents with Russian aircraft, which increases the risk of a direct confrontation between the (NATO) alliance and the Russian Federation.”

It said that NATO countries would be responsible for any such incidents.

The statement did not mention Crimea, the Black Sea region which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. But Russian military facilities in Crimea have been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces, including with Western missiles.

Ukraine is battling to preserve democratic progress during wartime. It's not easy

As an investigative journalist, then an activist, and later a lawmaker, Yehor Soboliev sought to expose corruption in business and government as a way to defend Ukraine’s budding democracy.

Now, as a soldier battling Russia, he’s had to put those aims on hold as he fights alongside some of the people he once tried to bring down.“Till the victory, we are on the same side,” said Soboliev, a lieutenant in a front-line drone unit.

“But maybe — definitely — after the victory, we should separate ourselves from each other. And we should continue that fight in making our country more honest, more responsible, more serving to its citizens.”

Ukraine has spent years trying to build a Western-style democracy, although not without some bumps along the way as it shed habits from its Soviet past.

To beat back Russia and remain a democracy it has felt compelled to temporarily suspend or restrict some democratic ideals.

Elections have been postponed, a once-robust media has been restrained, corruption-fighting has slipped down the agenda, and freedom of movement and assembly have been curbed by martial law.

And as Russia pounds Ukraine’s cities and makes battlefield gains, the unity sparked by the invasion — and the sense of common purpose crucial to defending democracy — have come under growing strain.

Russia lost 1,170 soldiers in the past 24 hours, says Ukraine

At least 1,170 Russian forces have been killed and wounded in invasion in Ukraine in the past day, officials of the Ukrainian military said this morning. This comes as the battlefield clashes in the war-hit nation surged.

In the past 24 hours, the frontline saw 119 combat clashes, the General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces said, naming Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove as the hottest sections of the front throughout the day.

“During the day, the enemy launched six missile strikes on Ukrainian territory (a total of eight missiles), 43 airstrikes (56 guided aerial bombs dropped), and 458 kamikaze drones. They also fired 2,863 times on our troops’ positions and settlements using a variety of weapons,” the statement update this morning read.

Russian navy missile cruiser carries out drills in the Mediterranean Sea

The Russian navy missile cruiser Varyag has carried out drills in the Mediterranean Sea, the state-owned TASS news agency reported on Thursday, citing the navy command.

The drills focused on repelling a mass sea drone attack, the navy command said.

It also involved simulated engagements with an enemy vessel and a submarine.

Earlier this month a Russian naval frigate conducted drills in the Atlantic Ocean searching for submarines while on its way to Cuba.

Russia orders measures taken over US drones in Black Sea

Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov has ordered the general staff to take measures to address increased activity of United States drones over the Black Sea, the RIA news agency cited the ministry as saying today.

The ministry said such activity increased the risk of incidents involving Russian aircraft and could cause direct confrontation between Russia and Nato.

Kremlin considering downgrading of diplomatic relations with the West

The Kremlin said that Russia is considering a possible downgrading of diplomatic relations with the West due to the deeper involvement of the United States and its allies in the Ukraine war, though no decision has yet been made.

“The issue of lowering the level of diplomatic relations is a standard practice for states that face unfriendly or hostile manifestations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about the possibility of such a move.

“Due to the growing involvement of the West in the conflict over Ukraine, the Russian Federation cannot but consider various options for responding to such hostile Western intervention in the Ukrainian crisis.”

Mr Peskov said that no decision had yet been made on the matter and that Russia was considering different ways to respond to the West.

Donald Trump has suggested Russia never would have attacked Ukraine if the US had a “real president” been in office.

“If we had a real president, a president that knew that was respected by Putin, he would have never he would have never invaded Ukraine,” he said as the former president squared off with Joe Biden at the first presidential debate on CNN.

“He knew not to play games with me,” Mr Trump said referring to the Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The former president said that he will have the war settled between Mr Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky if he is the president-elect. “Before I take office on 20 January, I’ll have that war settled,” he said.

However, Mr Biden called Mr Putin a “war criminal” and warned that if Russia is allowed to succeed in its war, Putin would not stop at Kyiv. “He wants all of Ukraine. That’s what he wants,” Mr Biden said.

“He’s killed thousands and thousands of people,” the US president said.

Mr Biden also shot back at him for claims of pushing European allies to spend more money intro defence. “This is a guy who wants to pull out of Nato,” Mr Biden said, adding that he “got 50 other nations” to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.

However, the Republican face Mr Trump denied his acceptance of Mr Putin’s conditions to end the war in Ukraine.“Look, this is a war that never should have started if we had a leader,” Mr Trump said.

Russia claims it has carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian airfields hosting Western aircraft

Russia claims it has carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian airfields which it believes have been designated to host Western military aircraft, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

Russia used sea-based long-range precision weapons, the Kinzhal hypersonic missile and drones in the attack, it said.

All designated targets were hit, the ministry added, without naming the list of targets.

Russia is considering a possible downgrading of relations with the West due to the deeper involvement of the United States and its allies in the Ukraine war, but no decision had yet been taken, the Kremlin said yesterday.

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Izvestia newspaper that ambassadors fulfilled a difficult but important job that allowed a channel of communication to operate in troubled times.

But Mr Ryabkov also said that a possible downgrading of ties with the West was being studied.

When asked about the possibility of such a move, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that given the West’s current approach to Russia it was one of several options that was being considered, though no decision had yet been made.

“The issue of lowering the level of diplomatic relations is a standard practice for states that face unfriendly or hostile manifestations,” Peskov said.

A downgrading of relations – or even breaking them off – would illustrate the gravity of the confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine after an escalation in tensions over the war in recent months.

Even during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Cold War is thought to have come closest to nuclear war, Russia did not sever relations with the United States, though Moscow did break off ties with Israel over the 1967 Middle East war.

Putin’s troops pushed out of part of key eastern town, says Ukraine military

Ukraine’s military said its forces had forced Russian troops out of a district in the town of Chasiv Yar on the war’s eastern front seen as Moscow’s next target in its slow advance through the area.

Russian forces are slowly pushing their way across parts of eastern Ukraine, capturing several villages since seizing the key city of Avdiivka in February.

Chasiv Yar stands on high ground 20km (12 miles) to the west of Bakhmut, a town Russian forces captured a year ago after months of battles. Both sides see Chasiv Yar as a potential staging point for Russia to advance on the key cities of the eastern Donetsk region, including Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for Ukraine’s southern group of forces, told the Ukrinform news agency that Russian forces had moved out of Chasiv Yar’s “Kanal” district along the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal that runs along the town’s eastern edge.

“Ukrainian defenders have indeed squeezed Russian forces out of the Kanal district in Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region,” Ukrinform quoted Voloshyn as saying. “The enemy army is no longer there.”

Voloshyn told other Ukrainian media outlets that Russian troops were shelling Kyiv’s forces in more than 200 incidents over 24 hours, mostly on the town’s southern approaches.

The Ukrainian military’s General Staff, in a late evening report yesterday, said Russian troops had tried to push back Ukrainian forces six times near Chasiv Yar. Three attacks were repelled and fighting still gripped the area.

An unverified Russian report said Moscow’s forces had destroyed a communications tower near the town and made further headway.

A fire broke out at a fuel depot in the Tambov region in central Russia this morning because of a drone attack, regional Governor Maksim Yegorov wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

No one was hurt in the incident, he said, and firefighters were working at the site.

Zelensky urges EU leaders to make good on their arms promises

Ukraine’s president called on European Union leaders to make good on their pledges to provide military equipment to his war-ravaged country, just days after the bloc launched membership talks with his government.

“We have to work on next steps,” president Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters in Brussels as he arrived to attend a summit of EU leaders. He said he and the leaders would discuss “the urgent things – air defence, that is one.”

Mr Zelensky thanked countries that have promised equipment, weapons and ammunition, but underlined that “we need them urgently on the battlefield.”

Ukraine's president urges EU leaders to make good on their arms promises

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Top international court issues arrest warrants for senior Russian officials

Zelenskyy attends EU summit in Brussels

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky signed three defence agreements — two individual deals with Lithuania and Estonia, plus one with the EU.

The agreement with the EU confirms commitments to help Ukraine in areas of security and defence policy.

Meanwhile, Lithuania and Estonia declared their commitments to allocate around 0.25 per cent of their GDP for military aid for Ukraine.

Pictured: Zelensky meets EU leaders

US ambassador calls China's tech support for Russia during Ukraine invasion a 'major mistake'

A Ukrainian author turned soldier has a stark warning for the West: ‘Be prepared for war with Russia’

Ukrainian author and soldier warns the West: ‘War is coming to you’

Russia accused of flashing violent Ukraine war images on children’s TV channels

Zelensky and Orban in animated exchange

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban were seen having an animated exchange at an EU summit in Brussels.

Russian navy to be boosted by over 40 new ships

Vladimir Putin says Russia’s navy will be boosted by at least 40 new ships in 2024.

In a report by state-run news agency TASS, the Russian leader is quoted as saying that one of the country’s main objectives is to “comprehensively upgrade” its naval capabilities.

This includes “ship, aircraft and coastal components”, while there are also plans to improve the infrastructure of naval bases to “strengthen its positions in the strategically crucial areas of the world ocean, and to drastically improve its combat potential”.

EU signs security agreement with Ukraine

The European Union has signed a security agreement with Ukraine in Brussels.

The pact, confirmed today, is intended to complement similar agreements sealed between Ukraine and its allies as it continues its defence against Russia’s invasion.

The agreement entrenches the EU’s commitment to help Ukraine in nine areas of security and defence policy - including arms deliveries, military training, defence industry cooperation and demining,

George Galloway says he trusts Vladimir Putin more than Keir Starmer

Poland's Tusk and Ukraine's Zelenskiy to hold talks in Warsaw

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Warsaw before a NATO summit that starts on July 9 in Washington.

“We agreed with President Zelenskiy to talk in Warsaw before the NATO summit,” Tusk said in a post on social media platform X.

Zelensky calls on EU to make good on their pledges to provide military equipment

Ukraine‘s president has called on European Union leaders to make good on their pledges to provide military equipment to his war-ravaged country, just days after the bloc launched membership talks with his government.

“We have to work on next steps,” Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters in Brussels as he arrived to attend a summit of EU leaders.

He said he and the leaders would discuss “the urgent things - air defence, that is one”.

Mr Zelensky thanked countries that have promised equipment, weapons and ammunition, but underlined that “we need them urgently on the battlefield”.

Russian forces are seeking to press their advantage in troop numbers and weaponry before Ukraine‘s armed forces are bulked up by promised new western military aid, some of which is trickling to the front line, analysts say.

The EU launched membership talks with Ukraine on Tuesday, a decade after Russian troops seized the Crimean Peninsula to deter the country from moving closer to the West, part of a chain of events that set the two neighbours on the path to war.

Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Brussels to sign security agreements

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels today where he plans to sign three security agreements, including one with the European Union.

“For the first time, this agreement will enshrine the commitment of all 27 member states to provide Ukraine with extensive support, regardless of any internal institutional changes,” he said on X.

Two dead and one missing after train derails in northern Russia

A passenger train derailment in northern Russia has killed at least two people and left one other missing, a state-run railway company said.

The 14-carriage train derailed in Russia’s northern republic of Komi on Wednesday night, Russian Railways said, with nine carriages coming off the tracks.

Up to 50 people were injured, Russia’s news agency Interfax reported, citing emergency officials.

The train, carrying 232 passengers, was headed to the southern city of Novorossiysk from Vorkuta, a coal mining town in the north of Komi, Russian Railways said.

Authorities said that heavy rainfall, which washed out parts of the track, was the likely cause of the derailment.

Ukraine downs 23 drones overnight

Ukrainian air force said it shot down all 23 drones and five out of six missiles launched by Russia in the early hours of Thursday.

Khmelnytskyi regional governor Serhii Tiurin said the air defence shot down nine aerial targets over his region. Local authorities have not received any reports of casualties or property damage, he added.

Governor Vitaliy Kim said the military destroyed six drones and three cruise missiles over the southern region of Mykolaiv.

Two drones were shot down over the southern region of Kherson and one more was short down over Dnipropetrovsk region, local authorities said.

China says it firmly opposes EU sanctions against its firms over Russian links

China firmly opposes the European Union’s inclusion of some Chinese firms in a 14th package of sanctions on Russia, its commerce ministry said on Wednesday.

The move has a negative impact on China-EU economic and trade relations, the ministry said, adding it urges the bloc to “unconditionally” stop sanctioning Chinese firms.

EU countries agree sanctions on Belarus to plug 'biggest loophole' in Russian measure

European Union countries agreed a sanctions package against Belarus on Wednesday, EU diplomats and Belgium said, to try to close off a route to avoiding restrictions on Russia.

The EU adopted this week its 14th package of sanctions to punish Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which included clauses that increased responsibility on EU companies exporting via non-EU countries.

“This package will strengthen our measures in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including combating circumvention of sanctions,” Belgium, which holds the EU presidency until the end of June, said on X.

Closed-door trial of US journalist Evan Gershkovich begins in Russia as case denounced as sham

Closed-door trial of US journalist begins in Russia as case denounced as sham

Watch from court as US reporter Evan Gershkovich goes on trial in Russia for spying

Watch live from court as US reporter Evan Gershkovich goes on trial in Russia

Russian glide bombs are obliterating front-line Ukraine towns

Russian glide bombs are obliterating front-line Ukraine towns. There’s more to come

Trump military aides say they’ve given him detailed plan to pressure Ukraine into peace talks with Putin

Trump military aides give him plan to pressure Ukraine into peace talks with Putin

North Korean troops will become 'cannon fodder' if they help Russian forces in Ukraine

If North Korean troops were sent to Ukraine to help the Russian army they would become “cannon fodder”, Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said.

In a briefing yesterday evening, Mr Ryder was asked about the possibility of North Korean forces being sent to Ukraine as the country advances its military partnerships with Russia.

Mr Ryder did not say there was any indication of North Korean troops actually being sent into combat, but he cautioned the North against that potential development.

'Give them 20 lashes': Kremlin official suggests whipping disobedient Russians

A Russian official has suggested publicly whipping disobedient Russians.

In a translated clip shared by columnist at The Daily Beast Julia Davis, State Duma deputy Andrey Svintsov discussed his thoughts on those who spoke out against the Kremlin.

“Those who repent should publicly apologise and publicly receive 20 lashes with a whip in Red Square,” he said.

Zelenskyy visits troops in Donetsk region

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited troops in the eastern frontline Donetsk region today with his top military leadership.

In a statement on Telegram, Mr Zelenskyy said he held a detailed meeting on security with military leaders and addressed many issues.

“There will be a separate conversation in Kyiv, particularly with officials who must be here and in other areas near the frontline - in difficult communities where people need immediate solutions. Solutions that simply cannot be seen from Kyiv,” he said.

'No evidence' behind Gershkovich charges, US embassy says

The US embassy in Russia has said that Moscow has failed to provide any evidence to support espionage charges against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

In a statement on the first day of Mr Gershkovich’s closed trial on spying charges, the embassy said the case was about the Kremlin using US citizens to achieve its political objectives.

“Russian authorities have failed to provide any evidence supporting the charges against him, failed to justify his continued detention, and failed to explain why Evan’s work as a journalist constitutes a crime,” the embassy said.

Russia 'working on a big treaty with Iran'

Moscow is working on a “big treaty” with Iran, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova has said.

Ms Zakharova’s comment appeared to be a reference to a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement that is being negotiated between Tehran and Moscow.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Iran had supplied Russia with ballistic missiles.

Rishi Sunak congratulations new Nato chief