World War 3: Russia successfully tests hypersonic missile able to BEAT US defences

Vladimir Putin’s army has completed five tests of the ship-based hypersonic missile since 2015, according to two US intelligence sources. The deadly weapon – called Tsirkon – could even beat US defences, the sources added. The last test of the terrifying device was on December 10.

One of the sources told CNBC: “What we are seeing with this particular weapon is that the Russians designed it to have a dual-purpose capability, meaning, it can be used against a target on land as well as a vessel at sea.

“Last week’s successful test showed that the Russians were able to achieve sustained flight, a feat that is crucial in the development of hypersonic weapons.”

However James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, insisted that the US is not behind Russia in developing weapons.

Mr Acton said: “I don’t necessarily agree with the characterisation that the US is on its back foot.

“All of the evidence I see is that the US has significantly more ambitious goals than the Russians and Chinese.

“I don’t want to pretend that these developments are irrelevant and that the US can just ignore them.

“Clearly, there is a qualitative increase in the threat level with the development of a missile like Tsirkon, which is significant.

“But my point is that the breathless reaction you often hear to these developments, I think, can be overestimated.”

It comes after Mr Putin accused the US of increasing the risk of nuclear war by threatening to pull out of a key arms control treaty.

Russia’s President warned that the move could prompt an arms race.

Mr Putin said: “We are essentially witnessing the breakdown of the international arms control order and an arms race.

“It’s very hard to imagine how the situation will develop. If these missiles appear in Europe what should we do? Of course, we’ll have to ensure our own security.”

And another treaty between America and Russia – the New START pact – expires in 2021 but Mr Putin said the US was refusing to hold talks to discuss its future.

The Russian President said: “No talks on extending this are yet being held. Are the Americans not interested, do they not need them?

“Ok, we’ll survive and will ensure our own security, which we know how to do. But in general, this is very bad for humankind because it takes us closer to a dangerous threshold.”