The worst that our nightmares have been able to cook up for decades involves nuclear-burst clouds, radiation burns impossible to recover from, vaporization en masse, buildings standing stripped of the living.
But what we already have are missiles that can inflict nuclear-level catastrophe—without being nuclear. Russia slung one at Ukraine in the fourth week of November, causing significant devastation and flabbergasting NATO. The Oreshnik—meaning ‘hazel tree’ in Russian, a reference to its many branches sharpened to killing points with six warheads, each with six payloads—is a ‘conventional’ intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that travels at over 14,000 kmph; it’s unstoppable by any extant antimissile technology. Its 36 warheads can be individually directed to strike different targets.
The Oreshnik stunned military strategists across the world because, at Mach 11, it beat the Mach 9.6 scramjet NASA X-43, the fastest jet-powered aircraft on record. The Russian IRBM has the range to hit all the European capitals in less than 15 minutes (but not the US, although reports suggest an intercontinental version is on the cards by 2025).
If this is the stuff of nightmares, there are petits cauchemars or little nightmares in the making, too: dragon drones. A deadly new weapon in the Russo-Ukrainian war, they spray a molten metal heated to 2,427°C—a rain of fire. Dragon drones carry thermite, a mixture of metal powder often made of aluminum and powdered everyday rust.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 05, 2024-Ausgabe von The New Indian Express.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 05, 2024-Ausgabe von The New Indian Express.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Bibi: Israel seizes buffer zone along Syrian border
ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he ordered the Israeli military to \"seize\" a demilitarised buffer zone on the border with Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
Syrians celebrate fall of Assad family rule
Ex-president and family reportedly in Moscow; crowds ransacked his home after rebels swept in
Amid royal dispute, Udaipur's temple introduces dress code for women
UDAIPUR's iconic Eklingji temple has introduced a new dress code, prohibiting visitors from wearing short clothing such as mini-skirts, bermudas, and night suits.
Green cess in U'khand on outside pvt vehicles
IN a proactive step towards environmental conservation, the Uttarakhand government is gearing up to impose a green cess on private vehicles entering the state from other regions.
'Accept defeat': Fadnavis counters Pawar's remark on election results
MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday sharply responded to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar's comments on BJP-led Maha Yuti's victory in assembly elections, saying the opposition must \"accept defeat\" and introspect.
INDIA bloc will hold talks to take call on Mamata as leader, says Tejashwi
The main opposition in Bihar-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-on Sunday appeared non-committal on West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's willingness to lead the 'INDIA' bloc.
Pressure on Manipur govt to restore net
AS mobile internet services remain suspended in nine of Manipur's 16 districts, pressure is now mounting on the state government to lift the ban.
Modi to attend Rising Rajasthan Summit today
THE Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024 will take place in Jaipur from December 9 to 11, with the Rajasthan government aiming to attract investments and propel the state's economic growth.
Maoists kill another woman in Bijapur dist
AFTER an Anganwadi assistant was killed at Basaguda in an edgy Bijapur, the Maoists strangled another woman to death in the same district, police said on Sunday.
J'khand villagers hunt for Maoists
MORE than 15,000 people of nearly 100 villages in Jharkhand's Chaibasa have taken to the streets with bows, arrows, swords and other traditional weapons, launching a campaign against the Maoists active in the area.