Russia Expands Strategic Nuclear Arsenal with Avangard Hypersonic Missile Deployment.

On December 18, 2024, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) completed the re-equipment of a division with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, further enhancing Russia's nuclear deterrent and reinforcing the growing importance of hypersonic technologies in its defense strategy. This deployment, taking place in the Orenburg region near the Russian-Kazakh border, marks another milestone in the operational expansion of one of Russia's most advanced weapons systems.
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The Russian Avangard hypersonic missile is launched during a test, demonstrating its high-speed boost-glide capability and advanced maneuverability. This weapon is designed to enhance Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent, making it capable of evading missile defense systems. (Picture source: Russian MoD)

The Avangard hypersonic missile was first introduced to the Russian military in December 2019 with the 13th Red Banner Rocket Division, and by 2021, this unit had achieved full operational capability. A second unit went on combat alert by mid-2022, and now, the Orenburg division has joined the ranks, solidifying the Avangard’s role in Russia's nuclear strike capabilities.

The Avangard is a cutting-edge hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) designed to be launched atop a ballistic missile. It represents a major leap forward in Russia’s ability to penetrate missile defense systems and strike high-value targets with immense speed and precision. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Avangard is its ability to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 20 — roughly 6.28 km per second — after being boosted into suborbital flight. These speeds place the Avangard in a category of its own, far beyond the capabilities of traditional ICBMs. The glide vehicle’s combination of speed and maneuverability during its descent allows it to unpredictably alter its flight path, making it virtually impossible for current missile defense systems to intercept.

In terms of technical specifications, the Avangard boasts a range of over 6,000 km, with a weight of approximately 2,000 kg. The vehicle can carry both nuclear and conventional payloads, with the nuclear warhead reportedly capable of yielding more than 2 megatons of TNT equivalent — a staggering amount of destructive power. This versatility allows the Avangard to be employed in a variety of strategic contexts, from high-yield nuclear strikes to more conventional targets requiring precision.

As a boost-glide weapon, the Avangard is carried to its suborbital apogee by a ballistic missile. Currently, this is the SS-19 "Stiletto" (UR-100NUTTH), though plans are in place to transition to the more powerful RS-28 "Sarmat" ICBM in the future. The RS-28 "Sarmat" will replace the SS-19 as the Avangard’s primary delivery system, providing increased range, payload capacity, and overall capability. Although Russia initially planned to mount the Avangard on the road-mobile RS-26 "Rubezh" (SS-X-31), financial constraints led to the adoption of the more advanced R-28 "Sarmat" for deployment. The R-28 “Sarmat” will provide greater flexibility and survivability for the Avangard in both mobile and silo-based configurations.

Once boosted to its apogee at around 100 km in altitude, the Avangard separates from its rocket carrier and begins its glide towards its target. This separation occurs in the vacuum of space, allowing the glide vehicle to re-enter the atmosphere and continue its descent with atmospheric speeds exceeding Mach 20. During this phase, the Avangard remains highly maneuverable, using its aerodynamic features to shift its trajectory and evade interception. As Russia’s President Vladimir Putin revealed in a 2018 speech, the Avangard’s ability to maneuver at hypersonic speeds gives it an unpredictable flight path, making it especially difficult for missile defense systems to track and engage during its descent.

Though no publicly available images of the Avangard exist, reports suggest that it likely features a short, wedge-shaped design or possibly a shuttle-like configuration with small stabilizer wings. The HGV itself likely does not rely on any propulsion system after separation from its carrier missile, instead using gravity and aerodynamic forces to maintain its speed and altitude. This design minimizes the complexity of the system and ensures that the vehicle remains as fast and efficient as possible while still retaining the ability to maneuver in flight.

The operational capabilities of the Avangard present significant challenges for missile defense systems, particularly those developed by NATO and the United States. The vehicle’s combination of high speed, maneuverability, and range makes it an effective counter to current missile defense technologies, which are designed to intercept traditional ballistic missiles that follow predictable, high-arc trajectories. Hypersonic glide vehicles like the Avangard, with their unpredictable flight paths and speeds, complicate attempts to intercept or destroy them before they reach their targets.

The threat posed by the Avangard is serious for the United States and Europe. The glide vehicle’s ability to carry up to a 2-megaton nuclear warhead provides Russia with a highly effective means of delivering devastating strikes to multiple targets simultaneously, potentially overwhelming missile defense systems. Each large Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can carry up to 12 Avangard warheads, allowing for a strike on 12 separate locations, all with the potential for thermonuclear destruction. This significantly enhances Russia’s strategic capabilities and raises the stakes in the nuclear arms race.

Furthermore, the deployment of such advanced weapons systems by Russia increases the pressure on NATO and the U.S. to develop countermeasures that can neutralize hypersonic threats. While current missile defense systems can intercept traditional ICBMs, they are less equipped to deal with the unpredictability and extreme speed of hypersonic glide vehicles. This technological gap presents a potential vulnerability, particularly if Russia continues to expand its arsenal of hypersonic weapons, forcing the West to accelerate its own research into counter-hypersonic technologies.

The Avangard’s deployment, alongside other Russian strategic systems like the Sarmat ICBM and Poseidon underwater drone, indicates a deliberate move by Moscow to ensure the survivability of its nuclear deterrent in the face of emerging missile defense technologies. For Russia, the Avangard is a tool of both defense and power projection, designed not only to counter U.S. missile defense systems but also to reinforce its nuclear deterrent in an increasingly multipolar global security environment.

In conclusion, the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle represents a significant advancement in Russia’s military capabilities. With its long range, high speed, and ability to carry massive nuclear payloads, the Avangard poses a formidable challenge to missile defense systems in both the U.S. and Europe. As Russia continues to modernize its nuclear arsenal, the Avangard’s role as a primary component of its strategic deterrence posture is set to grow, while the implications for global arms control and missile defense systems will likely shape future military and diplomatic strategies worldwide.