Russia building ‘unrivalled’ next generation of futuristic weapons to outgun the West…including robotic tanks, stealth fighters and deadly nuke missiles
VLADIMIR Putin has boasted Russia is miles ahead in the race to develop the world's deadliest army.
The Russian leader has spearheaded a rearmament programme to ensure his military leaders now have the most advanced weapons systems on the planet.
It's been reported Russia officially spent around £33BILLION on its military in 2017, but some experts believe the actual figure could be a lot higher.
The news sparked calls for the UK to increase its own military spending - to meet the multiple new threats posed by Russia, North Korea and terror groups.
Some of Putin's new weapons, to enter service between 2018 and 2027, surpass even the future weapons systems used by tested by Nato nations.
Here are the six weapons Yury Borisov, Russia's deputy prime minister, claims are real game changers.
T-14 Armata tank
The T-14 is Russia’s next-generation battle tank and it can reportedly out-blast its American rivals in a heartbeat.
The Armata’s main gun can reportedly fire new-and-improved 3UBK21 Sprinter laser-guided missiles capable of destroying targets 7.4 miles, away - far outstripping the 2.5-mile effective range of the US's Abrams’ M256 120mm main gun.
This means, in the event of a ground confrontation between US and Russian forces on the battlefield in say, Syria or Ukraine, the Armata could defeat American armour before a platoon manages to trundle into range.
It is also equipped with an unmanned 'robot' turret, modular armour and an active protection system designed to shoot down incoming missiles.
5th-generation SU-57
The state-of-the-art SU-57 is known as the "aerial ghost" and is so advanced it appears INVISIBLE to enemies.
The fighter jet is said to rival the American F-22 and Chinese Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-31 combat planes.
It packs an array of fearsome weapons including the Kh-35UEm a subsonic, anti-ship cruise missile, and the nuclear-capable BrahMos cruise missile.
The planes can cruise at maximum speeds 1,900mph per hour at an altitude of up to 12 miles.
The Su-57, which made its maiden flight in 2010, will reportedly fly armed with K-77M missiles which can strike targets up to 120 miles away.
The US's F-35’s publicly listed top speed is 1,199 miles per hour - so if the speed were true then it would make the Russian stealth fighter faster than the most state-of-the-art fifth generation stealth fighter.
S-500 defence system
The Russian military expects to receive the first examples of the new Almaz Antey S-500 air and missile defence systems in the very near future.
The new weapon - which will form the upper tier of Russia’s layered integrated air defence system - is expected to be able to engage targets at altitudes of about 125 miles.
That means that the S-500 will be able to engage targets such as incoming ballistic missiles in space at ranges as great as 400 miles.
The first regiment of S-500 will be deployed to protect Moscow and central Russia.
The S-500 is expected to able to detect and simultaneously attack up to ten ballistic missile warheads flying at speeds of twenty-three thousand feet per second.
The US military fear even stealth warplanes like the F-22, F-35 and the B-2 might have problems dodging them.
Nudol missile shield
Moscow claims the Nudol is an anti-missile system to engage enemy warheads in the so-called "midcourse phase" after separating from the missile booster needed to reach low-earth orbit.
That's also where dozens of military satellites can be found and they will also be prime targets for the Nudol during the outbreak of a global conflict.
It can eliminate satellites, especially Global Positioning System satellites that provide precise navigation coordinates to American air, ground, and sea forces.
There's no word when Nudol will actually enter service, but it fast-paced testing schedule suggests it's a priority for Russian forces.
Its long-range missiles will most likely be equipped with nuclear warheads, while the others will have kinetic energy warheads.
It will replace the A-135 Amur system, which covers Moscow and the central industrial region which is equipped with silo-based missiles.
The Sarmat ICBM
The Sarmat RS-28 is a terrifying ballistic missile which was commissioned in 2011 and is expected to officially come into service later this year.
However, it's believed to be ready for battle if needed.
It has been dubbed "Satan 2", as it replaces the RS-36M, the weapon infamously referred to by Nato as the Satan missile.
The Russians brag the 10-tonne missile could destroy an area "the size of Texas or France" delivering a blast some 2,000 times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Russia has even designed a hypersonic warhead intended to power the missiles.
The warhead is designed to be impossible to intercept because it does not move on a set trajectory and can switch direction.
The Sarmat is intended to one day replace the Soviet-designed Voyevoda, the world’s heaviest ICBM, which is known as “Satan” in the West and which carries 10 nuclear warheads.
Putin said Sarmat weighs 200 metric tons and has a higher range than Satan, allowing it to fly over the North or the South Poles and strike targets anywhere in the world.
Tirada-2s satellite jammer
Little is known about the super-secret Tirada-2s jaming system, other than that is due to replace the long-serving Krasukha (seen above).
These mobile electronic warfare units are seen as crucial in a world where future wars will be fought by computers as well as combat troops.
They work to jam other airborne radars, including radar-guided missiles.
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The missiles, once jammed, are then provided a false target away from the original to ensure that the missiles are no longer a threat.
Jammers have been reportedly deployed to support Russian troops fighting on the ground in Syria.
They have reportedly been blocking small US surveillance drones from receiving GPS satellite signals.
How does Russia's military compare to Britain's?
Russia:
Population: 142m
Annual spending: $44billion
Manpower (active personnel): 798,000
Tanks: 20,216
Battleships: 3552
Aircraft: 3,794
Nukes: 8,000
Submaries: 63
Britain:
Population: 64million
Annual spending: $45.7billion
Manpower (active personnel): 150,000
Tanks: 249
Battleships: 76
Aircraft: 856
Nukes: 225
Submaries: 11
*According to figures from Global Firepower