Russia may be poised to field strategic and tactical missiles that are difficult to detect and engage with existing anti-missile systems.
President Vladimir Putin alluded to a “new weapon” on October 10, 2025, during a press conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, following a CIS leaders’ summit and his visit to the country.
The Russian president did not specify the nature of the new weapon but stated that the system “is undergoing tests [which] are proceeding successfully.”
Putin made the remark in the context of his proposal to the United States to extend the New START arms-control treaty, which limits American and Russian strategic offensive weapons. The treaty is set to expire on February 5, 2026.
Putin expressed optimism that the treaty would be extended “as long as there is goodwill” on Washington’s part. He asserted, however, that Russia feels secure regardless, given the “novelty” of its nuclear deterrent and its continuous improvement.
He emphasized that the new weapon system is being finalized, and that Russia continues to develop and test new-generation nuclear weapons as part of its strategic deterrence efforts amid discussions over the expiring New START treaty and the ongoing global arms race.
Putin reiterated that tests of the “new weapon” are progressing well and that an official announcement is expected soon.
Past Claims Of A New Weapon
In August, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also hinted that Russia possessed advanced weaponry beyond the Oreshnik missile.
“There is Oreshnik. But there is more, and we have been wasting no time. I cannot name what I am not authorized to name. But it exists,” Ryabkov said on the Rossiya 1 channel.
Nature Of The New Weapon Revealed?
On October 11, TASS quoted military analyst Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine, as saying that the new weapon may be based on a breakthrough in solid-propellant technology.
“I believe this may be related to the latest research into solid-propellant missile technologies for advanced Russian systems of varying ranges — most likely mobile-based variants,” Korotchenko speculated.
Understanding the nature of this potential breakthrough and its implications for nuclear deterrence is essential.
Solid Propellant Missile Limitations
Missiles powered by solid-propellant rocket motors can be stored and transported in a high state of launch readiness. However, they face limitations in engaging targets at variable ranges because their motors cannot be throttled, shut down, and restarted to adjust velocity and, consequently, range.
Once ignited, solid propellants burn continuously until exhausted.
By contrast, liquid-fueled missiles can adjust their range by varying the fuel load, throttling, or restarting their engines. Flexibility in range allows even retargeting in mid-flight.
Circumventing Solid Propellant Limitations
Since the thrust of a solid-fueled missile is fixed, one way to vary range is through trajectory modification.
To hit targets at shorter ranges than the missile’s optimal design range, a lofted trajectory is used. However, lofted trajectories result in higher re-entry heating and reduced accuracy.
More importantly, such trajectories are easier for adversary air defense systems to detect and intercept due to their predictability and slower terminal speeds.
Lofting also limits the missile’s minimum effective range.
Besides lofting, several other techniques can be employed to vary a solid-fueled missile’s range.
Multiple-Stage Missiles
A missile can incorporate multiple stages, allowing range adjustments through selective ignition or stage jettisoning.
However, this technique offers only coarse range control. Finer adjustments can be achieved using small liquid vernier thrusters, though the added complexity of combining multi-stage solid propulsion with vernier systems tends to offset the simplicity advantage of solids.
A variation of the multi-stage design is the multiple-pulse system, where a missile ignites a second propellant charge after a time delay following the burnout of the first.
Many modern solid-fueled missiles employ this technique to engage targets across a wide range spectrum, though their flexibility remains well below that of liquid-fueled systems.
Variable-Thrust Solid-Fueled Missiles
A variable-thrust solid-fueled missile system would introduce thrust modulation capability into solid rocket motors.
Fine-tuned thrust control could optimize energy management, reduce velocity errors, and improve impact precision. It could also enable longer ranges or larger payloads by avoiding inefficient burn patterns.
Moreover, in-flight thrust modulation would allow engagement of targets at any range within the missile’s envelope.
Variable-thrust solid-fueled missiles would combine the range flexibility of liquid-fueled systems with the inherent advantages of solids — such as long-term storability, rapid launch readiness, and operational reliability in harsh environments.
Such rocket motor thrust could be varied through technologies like electrically controlled solid propellants (ECSPs) and adjustable nozzle throats, which allow real-time control of burning rates, start/stop functions, and thrust levels.
ECSPs, in particular, eliminate the need for separate igniters or complex mechanical systems, potentially lowering costs and reducing failure risk.
Operational Advantages
Current-generation solid-fueled tactical missiles, such as the Iskander-M, must be repositioned before launch to achieve an optimal trajectory that minimizes exposure to enemy air defenses.
These movements are detectable by adversary aerial and space-based reconnaissance systems, exposing the launch platform to potential preemptive strikes.
A variable-thrust solid-fueled missile system could overcome this limitation by enabling launches along optimal trajectories to engage targets at different ranges without relocating the launcher.
Variable-thrust solid-fueled rocket motors would make both strategic and tactical missiles significantly more lethal. By modulating thrust, a strategic missile could perform mid-course corrections, speed changes, or evasive maneuvers, making it far more difficult for anti-missile systems to predict and intercept — a decisive advantage against advanced defenses such as THAAD or Aegis.
Conclusion
If Russia has indeed achieved variable-thrust solid propulsion, it would mark a significant milestone in missile technology—one that blurs the long-standing performance gap between solid- and liquid-fueled systems.
Such an advance could greatly enhance the flexibility, survivability, and unpredictability of Russia’s strategic arsenal, fundamentally complicating the calculus of missile defense and deterrence.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.
- Follow the author @vkthakur
