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The launch was performed by an operational unit of the Strategic Missile Forces from Dombarovsky missile deployment area against a hypothetical target at the Kura range, Kamchatka Territory.

Flying at hypersonic speed, the glide vehicle performed vertical and horizontal manoeuvres and hit the hypothetical target on time within the range’s combat field.

The tested glider is designed to evade missile defence radars and firepower, and can effectively overcome all the existing and future missile defence systems.

The qualification flight test programme has been completed in full, which makes it possible to make the Avangard complex available to the Strategic Missile Forces within the established timeframe.

Vladimir Putin thanked the creators of the Avangard complex, participants in the tests and the Defence Ministry for their successful work.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades,

I congratulate everyone, primarily, the general designer, engineers, workers – all those who worked to create this advanced weapon system – on this outstanding event in the life of the Armed Forces and in ensuring the security of the Russian state.

This was a major, long-lasting and complex effort that required groundbreaking solutions in areas that matter. All this was accomplished by our researchers, designers and engineers.

The new Avangard system is impervious to current and future air defence and missile defence systems of a potential enemy. This is a great success and a great victory.

As soon as next year, the Avangard system will be put into service. A regiment will be formed to start combat duty.

We will continue to work according to our plans, on both this system and other advanced weapons systems, to equip the Army and Navy.

This is a great New Year’s present for the country.

Please convey my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been involved in this project. I hope we will continue to keep up the good work.

Congratulations! Thank you so much for your work and service.

With regard to this subject in general, I know how this work is organised. However, I will later talk with the general designer and our other colleagues, and take additional measures to ensure unconditional results on all parallel matters that the General Staff and the Defence Ministry consider promising in terms of providing the Army and the Navy with the latest systems, including hypersonic weapons.

We will talk about this later.

Thank you very much.

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