News / Russia

Russia displays advanced weapons in Victory Day parades

Wednesday, 09 May 2018 2:54 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 09 May 2018 5:01 PM ]

Servicemen march in formation during a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2018.

Russia has celebrated its Victory Day with massive military parades across the country, showcasing some of its most advanced weapons, including hypersonic missile, Arctic-rated anti-aircraft systems and a new strike drone.

The parades on Wednesday commemorated the 73rd anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.

Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had earlier said more than 13,000 troops, 159 weapon systems and 75 aircraft will participate in the parade on Moscow’s Red Square.

All in all, 55,000 troops, 1,200 weapons systems and 150 war planes took part in the parades in 28 Russian cities.

Russian military aircraft fly over Red Square in Moscow, May 9, 2014.

In the Moscow parade, the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter, recently deployed to Syria, and the MiG-31 interceptor aircraft, equipped with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, were displayed.

The Russian military also showed off the YARS ballistic missiles, which can carry 10 nuclear warheads over a range of up to 7,500 miles, as well as advanced S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems.

Russia further unveiled its Uran-9 remote-controlled light tank, which is armed with a cannon, anti-tank rockets and a machine gun and have been tested during the fight against terrorists in Syria.

S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile launchers displayed at a military parade on Moscow’s Red Square on the 73rd anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War on May 9, 2018.

The country also put on display its Uran-6 remote-operated mine-sweeper, which has also been used in Russia’s anti-terrorism mission in Syria.

Yuri Borisov, the Kremlin’s deputy defense minister, also said the mine-sweeper allowed Syrian government forces to advance into militant-held areas as it can be controlled from a distance of just over half a mile.

Russia’s all-weather Korsar drone and its helicopter-style Katran drone were also displayed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the military parade on Red Square, May 9, 2018.

Addressing the parade, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued veiled criticism of the US and said “pretentions to exceptionalism” was the driving force behind Nazi aggression, and that such attitudes pose a security threat to the world today.

“Behind new threats stand the same ugly, old traits: egoism and intolerance, aggressive nationalism and pretentions to exceptionalism,” said Putin, warning, “Mankind has to realize that peace is very fragile.”

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