If for the current US military plans the historical parallel with the senseless Maginot line is destructive, for Russian developers our historical experience is fruitful. After all, if we take a closer look at the products presented now, at least one of them clearly traces the behests of the great pacifist of the 20th century, member of the Academy of Sciences, Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov.
By the way, there's a square in Washington named after him. What, in fact, did Andrei Sakharov, father of the thermonuclear bomb, invent? Actually, it was a warhead for a giant underwater drone, a torpedo that will deliver a filler of 100 megatons to the shores of America. Sakharov's idea was as follows. A series of extremely powerful explosions along the coast were to provoke a giant rogue wave. That secret Soviet project was called the T-15.
Sakharov himself described his idea as follows: "I decided that an effective carrier could be a big torpedo fired from a submarine. I imagined that a nuclear jet engine that converted water to steam could be created for the torpedo. An enemy port, several hundred kilometers away, would be the target. The body of such a torpedo could've been made of very strong stuff so that mines or protective nets would pose no threat. The destruction of ports (either with an above-water blast from a surfacing torpedo with a 100-megaton charge or a similar bomb) inevitably would entail very large numbers of casualties."
This is how Sakharov's concept was clarified by the late Valentin Falin.
Valentin Falin, the USSR Ambassador to FRG (1971-1978): "Sakharov's proposal was a bit different from mine, but still he proposed to create an 'x' number of 100-megaton bombs, place them along the American Atlantic and Pacific coasts at the bottom of the oceans, and if the Americans had attacked us, detonated all these bombs; provoking a 40-60-meter wave, and there would have been nothing left of the United States".
At Sakharov’s time, the T-15 project was not implemented because they failed to create a compact nuclear reactor as an engine for the torpedo. Now, these technical problems have been solved.
It is unpleasant to imagine such a picture, as it is generally unpleasant to imagine a nuclear war. But that is why the Kremlin offers the U.S. to return to the negotiating table instead of senselessly cranking out missiles, falling into the self-deception of imaginary security.
In the meantime, the US global ABM system embraces more than 400 missiles, as a Russian military and diplomatic source told Interfax on Saturday.
“More than 40 long-distance GBI interceptor missiles have already been deployed in California and Alaska, and there are about 180 Standard Missiles 3 in the US Atlantic and Pacific navy, as well as at the U.S. bases in Japan and Spain. 24 Standard Missiles 3 are on duty in Romania, plus more than 150 hundred ABM interceptor missiles of 6 THAADs.”
On Saturday, a Russian military and diplomatic source told RIA Novosti that these missiles "could only hit sparrows".
"After the new Russian weapons have been presented, they have no military significance. It's pointless now to use them to cover launch areas and various military groups".
Probably, the same source adds the following via TASS:
"They just need to understand all this and sit down to talk, to negotiate comprehensive security instead of saber-rattling".
However, they haven't understood it so far, dragging their feet.
Our correspondent Alexander Khristenko has the details.
The front pages of top US newspapers feature the latest Russian arms. The New York Times, The Washington Post, which even has 2 articles. Vladimir Putin's statement that Russian missiles are immune to any existing or future ABM systems provoked a backlash. It seems Washington politicians and military experts have just started to become aware of the new reality. Before the official reaction, a meaningful pause was filled with emotional media reports:
"Vladimir Putin's stunning statement is an aggressive and insane demonstration of Russia's new nuclear capabilities".
"According to Putin, this is a response to deploying US missile defense in Eastern Europe and other US military steps. He said: "Nobody listened to us. Listen to us now".
"Putin has shown the world that he is not bluffing".
It is clear that the statements of the Russian President were analyzed word by word, and video clips second by second, by Pentagon and US intelligence officers, military experts and diplomats.
Joseph Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund: It's not bluff, Putin said he wasn't bluffing, and he's right. He can do it. Russians can build large nuclear-armed missiles and destroy our country, they've got a lot of experience in it."
- Should we be freaked out?
- Yes, we should be freaked out.
Pentagon, on the contrary, decided to reassure everyone.
Dana White, Pentagon spokeswoman: The American people should rest assured, we're fully prepared."
- But Putin boasted about his invulnerable weapon.
- Again, we aren't surprised by his statement.
The White House also limited itself to a vague comment, saying the people should rest assured that the US Army is the strongest. Especially, under the current President who has increased the military budget. But Trump himself, for some reason, kept silent all this time. He only discussed Putin's statement with the German Chancellor Merkel and the French President Macron by phone.
Gen. Jack Keane, retired four star general: "Putin has been refining his nuclear arsenal over the last 5-6 years: ballistic missiles, bombers, and submarines with nuclear delivery systems, our systems are lagging behind".
Gen. James Cartwright, USMC (Ret.): "The thing that distresses me is their high assurance in successful attacks by reaching higher speeds and coming from different directions".
Before that, Washington, in fact, refused to discuss global security with Moscow. We tried to ask the State Department if anything will change now.
Alexander Khristenko, Russian television: Is the US planning?..
Heather Nauert, US Department of State spokeswoman: I'm sorry, where are you from? What's your name?
- Alexander Khristenko, Russian television. Is the US planning to continue to negotiate with Russia on global security and nuclear weapons after what was announced in Moscow?
- So your question is whether we will stop conversations and negotiations?
- I mean, will it change your attitude?
- It's certainly concerning to see your government, your country put together that kind of video that shows the Russian government attacking the U.S. I don’t think that’s very constructive nor is it responsible That's it, OK?
- There are two missiles flying in two different directions.
- Are you from Russian television too?
- Yes, Channel One.
- That says it all, go ahead.
It's not the first time that the State Department has openly been rude only to the Russian media. It even outraged Elise Labott, CNN correspondent:
- Wait, I'm sorry, what does that mean? They are not Russian officials, they just ask a question about Russia.
- Oh, really? OK.
Apparently, as a retaliatory measure, she was not allowed to ask a question. Having talked to other reporters, Heather Nauert finished the briefing, and the CNN journalist ran in fury to catch up with her.
The US has not yet worked out a response to Russia's new strategic weapons. Washington extended the anti-Russian sanctions for another year. The State Department for the first time approved the shipping of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.
As always, it is not free. Kiev will pay Washington almost $50 million for 37 Javelin systems and missiles. Dozens of billions of dollars that the U.S. spent on its global missile defense turned out a waste of money because of the latest Russian technologies. Such a conclusion can be drawn from the statement made by the Head of the US Strategic Command.
John Hyten, head of the US Strategic Command: "We built an architecture primarily focused on the ballistic missile characterization of the threat. Our adversaries have been watching that engagement, and that is why they are going after hypersonics and maneuvering re-entry vehicles and all the other pieces. We are to counter each other".
The US Gen seems to have spilled the beans, implicitly recognizing whom the US ABM targets. After all, it's not the DPRK or Iran, but Russia who has the technology of hypersonic missiles.
John Bolton, ex-US Ambassador to the UN: "These missiles, if they work, are beyond our ABM defense simply because they do not follow a ballistic trajectory. But we can create defense against them, we'll do it.
"There are not enough ships, there are not enough islands in the Pacific that radars can answer all of your sensor questions", complained the Head of the US Strategic Command.
Now the Pentagon is lobbying for the idea of deploying anti-missile sensors in space. But this again requires billions of dollars to be squeaked out in Congress.
The development of American nuclear forces and ABM systems is actively supported by Donald Trump who, however, is not yet able to protect even the White House. Another staff loss: Hope Hicks has resigned. She was a 29-year-old White House Communications Director and close advisor of the US President. A former Ralph Lauren model and lacrosse captain, Hicks protected her eccentric boss to the last. She even confessed having lied to this end. According to rumors, she had a calming effect on Donald Trump in crisis moments, which tend to happen more often lately.
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner lost trust because of broad business interests and international connections. He was denied access to state secrets. Now Trump distances himself even from his daughter Ivanka and, according to The New York Times, asked the key adviser John Kelly to protect the White House from her influence. Even Kelly is now rumored to resign soon.
John Kelly: "I did something wrong, and God punished me, I guess".
The White House, as some sources say, is suffering a difficult situation and is quite discouraged. The news from Moscow clearly offers little room for optimism. And now the administration is working on an updated Missile Defense Strategy, considering the breakthrough capabilities of the Russian military and industrial complex.
- Should Americans be concerned about that?
Richard Burt, assistant secretary of state for Europe: "We must find new ways to restore the dialogue on nuclear arms with Russia. As we go forward, it will be more difficult to reach an agreement".
It is not clear if the White House will listen to such opinions of experts. But it has been leaked that the new US Missile Defense Strategy will focus on Russia. The document is expected shortly.
Alexander Khristenko, Nikolay Kozkin for Vesti — News of the Week from Washington, USA.
