CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Russia has already commissioned the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles for some of its ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles that constitute part of Russia’s strategic nuclear triad. Putin has hailed the Avangard’s ability to maneuver at hypersonic speeds on its approach to target, dodging air defenses.

Detailed explanation-2: -It is one of several hypersonic missiles that Russia has developed. Putin has hailed Zircon as a potent weapon capable of penetrating any existing anti-missile defenses by flying nine times faster than the speed of sound at a range of more than 1,000 kilometers.

Detailed explanation-3: -Russia possesses a total of 5,977 nuclear warheads as of 2022, the largest stockpile of nuclear warheads in the world; the second-largest stockpile is the United States’ 5,428 warheads. Russia’s deployed missiles (those actually ready to be launched) number about 1,588, second to the United States’ 1,644.

Detailed explanation-4: -Zircon is intended to arm Russian cruisers, frigates and submarines, and it could be used against both enemy ships and ground targets. It is one of several hypersonic missiles that Russia has developed.