Defense industry news, March 22nd: Has Belarus acquired the Oreshnik hypersonic missile? This is questionable information based on images that have surfaced in Minsk.
Has Belarus acquired the Oreshnik hypersonic missile?; The United States integrates a new anti-tank missile onto the Bradley fighting vehicle – these are the topics covered in today's defense industry news on March 22nd.
Does Belarus possess Oreshnik hypersonic missiles?
An unspecified autonomous vehicle chassis for a missile system has appeared on the streets of Belarus. The Center for Strategic and Technological Analysis drew attention to this issue through a video publicly shared on its Telegram channel.
The footage shows a 12x12 wheeled tractor driving out of the parking lot of the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant.
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| Russia and Belarus have agreed on a plan to deploy Oreshnik missiles. Photo: Rian |
On March 19, Belarusian Security Council Secretary Alexander Volfovich announced that Minsk would soon deliver vehicles equipped with the Oreshnik missile system to Russia. Earlier, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that the Oreshnik launchers were being manufactured in Minsk.
According to President Lukashenko, the choice of deployment location for the Oreshnik missile will depend on the missile's technical parameters. "It's not good if the targets are too close. But when they are very far away, the missile can still carry a smaller payload," Lukashenko explained.
Lukashenko stated that Belarus wants to acquire at least 10 Oreshnik missile systems, but acknowledged that a transfer on such a scale would be very costly economically , especially since Russia also needs to deploy Oreshnik.
According to information from the Russian Ministry of Defense , the Oreshnik missile is designed to fly at Mach 10 (approximately 12,200 km/h), which is 10 times the speed of sound. The Russian military claims that the Oreshnik's destructive power is even greater than a tactical nuclear attack, yet it does not release radioactive fallout.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on December 26, 2024, that Moscow is not in a hurry to use its newest hypersonic missile but will not hesitate to act if necessary.
Putin asserted that the Oreshnik is virtually impossible to intercept, even with the most advanced Western air defense systems currently in use.
In 2023, Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus at Lukashenko's request amid concerns that several NATO countries in Europe were also deploying similar arsenals.
The United States integrates new anti-tank missiles onto Bradley vehicles.
The US M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle has received a new type of missile whose technical name is yet to be determined.
The military news site TWZ reported that a new type of missile appeared during a Bradley fighting vehicle training exercise. The publication drew attention to a photo of a vehicle firing an unidentified missile from a TOW anti-tank missile launcher. The U.S. Army calls them the 670. The test firing was conducted as part of Project Convergence-Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin in California.
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| The U.S. Army is testing a new anti-tank missile on the M2 Bradley fighting vehicle chassis. Photo: Getty |
Based on the published images, the mysterious missile is powered by a small rocket engine. The missile is also equipped with a folding stabilizer at the tail. The author acknowledges that the guidance system may be mounted at the nose. The body is divided into three parts, possibly indicating a modular design.
The design of the "670" missile is very different from the TOW missile variants. At the same time, the use of an ATGM launcher also suggests that the new missile is of similar size.
"Whatever the mysterious Model 670 is, it highlights the potential for the Bradley TOW launcher to evolve into a more versatile system," TWZ posted.
In early March 2025, Mach Industries unveiled a concept for a vertically launched cruise missile under development as part of the U.S. Army's Strategic Strike Test program. If mass-produced, the new missile would be less expensive than the GMLRS currently used with the HIMARS system.
He wants to have the capability to independently use nuclear weapons.
Britain wants the right to independently use nuclear weapons to deter Russia amid growing concerns about the country's vulnerability to political shifts in White House doctrine.
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| Despite being a nuclear power, Britain is dependent on the US for submarine-launched missile technology. (Image: Defense News) |
According to RIA Novosti, a senior British naval official stated: "Once the missiles have been fitted to the submarine, their deployment is a matter for the Royal Government and no one else – there is no doubt about that."
As the author of the article reiterates, although the United Kingdom develops and manufactures its own nuclear warheads and guidance systems, it must use Trident II D5 missiles leased from the United States to launch nuclear warheads to their targets.
Britain and the United States continued to operate under the 1958 Mutual Defense Treaty, which allowed for the transfer of specialized technology between the two countries. In 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy granted Britain autonomy in the use of nuclear weapons using American-made launch systems.
Source: https://congthuong.vn/belarus-da-so-huu-ten-lua-sieu-vuot-am-oreshnik-379490.html
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