Russia is attempting to modernize its nuclear and conventional weapons systems as well as its asymmetric capabilities in order to reach qualitative parity with the United States, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said in a congressional testimony on Thursday.

"Moscow is pursuing a wide range of nuclear, conventional, and asymmetric capabilities designed to achieve qualitative parity with the United States," Coats told the US Senate Intelligence Committee. "These capabilities will give Moscow more options to counter US forces and weapons systems."

On April 20, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said the country was developing hypersonic weapons on par with the United States.

On April 16, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that new samples of hypersonic weapon, as well as other advanced weapons would be supplied to the Russian Armed Forces by 2025 within the framework of the 2018-2025 State Armaments Program.

Coats went on to say that Russia sees military modernization as a significant national priority.

However, the US intelligence chief also pointed out that low oil prices, sanctions and systemic problems are making Russia's modernization efforts more difficult.

"A Russian official... acknowledged development of an aircraft-launched missile capable of destroying satellites in low-Earth orbit," Coats told the US Senate Intelligence Committee. "Russia is [also] developing an airborne laser weapon for use against US satellites."

Coats added that the anti-satellite weapons are being manufactured as part of an overall aerospace defense rearmament.

Source: Sputnik News

Tweet

Pentagon Awards Contract to Develop Knowledge-Based Space Command Tools
Washington DC (Sputnik) May 09, 2017
The US Department of Defense has awarded a contract to develop an innovative space evaluation and analysis test-bed to help develop advanced space enterprise command and control tools and capability technologies. BAE Systems Information and ESI have received a $12.8 million US Air Force contract to develop a set of advanced space enterprise command and control tools and capability technolo ... read more

Related Links
SpaceWar.com
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only