Russia inducts first Avangard hypersonic missiles into service

Russia inducts first Avangard hypersonic missiles into service
Question: On 27 December 2019,Russia has inducted which hypersonic missiles into service?
(a) Avangard
(b) Kinzhal
(c) RS-26 Rubezh
(d) RS-28 Sarmat
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
  • On 27 December 2019,Russia inducted first Avangard hypersonic missiles into service.
  • Avangard is also known as  Objekt 4202, Yu-71, and Yu-74. It is a Russian hypersonic glide vehicle that can be carried as a MIRV payload by the UR-100UTTKh, R-36M2 and RS-28 Sarmat heavy Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles.
  • The Avangard has a range of over 6,000 km, weighs approximately 2,000 kg, and can deliver both nuclear and conventional payloads.
  • This intercontinental hypersonic weapon can fly 27 times the speed of sound and is capable of sharp manoeuvres in the atmosphere en route to target making it much harder to intercept.
  • The Avangard can carry a nuclear weapon of up to 2 megatons. 
  • Avangard is designed using new composite materials to withstand temperatures of up to 2,000 Celsius resulting from a flight through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.

MIRV:

  • A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) is a missile payload containing several warheads, each capable of being aimed to hit a different target. 

Hypersonic Cruise Missiles:

  • HypersonicCruise Missiles travel at a speed of more than 5 Mach.Many countries are working to develop Hypersonic Cruise Missiles.
  • BrahMos Aerospace is also in the process of developing a hypersonic cruise missile,BRAHMOS II,which wouldfly at a speed greater than 5 Mach.

Links:

http://www.newsonair.nic.in/News?title=Russia-inducts-first-Avangard-hypersonic-missiles-into-service&id=376728

http://www.brahmos.com/content.php?id=10&sid=9

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_independently_targetable_reentry_vehicle