Avangard
The Avangard ("Vanguard"; previously known as Objekt 4202, Yu-71 and Yu-74) is a Russian hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). It can be carried as a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) payload of heavy intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), such as the UR-100UTTKh, R-36M2 and RS-28 Sarmat. It can deliver both nuclear and conventional payloads.
Avangard
- Name
- Avangard Авангард
- Field
- missile system.
- Region
- Russia.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The Avangard ("Vanguard"; previously known as Objekt 4202, Yu-71 and Yu-74) is a Russian hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). It can be carried as a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) payload of heavy intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), such as the UR-100UTTKh, R-36M2 and RS-28 Sarmat. It can deliver both nuclear and conventional payloads.
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- Identity
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Authority files
gnd · 131325245X · wikidata · Q55604542
In this article
Overview
Overview
Russia has claimed that the Avangard can reach speeds of over Mach 20 The Avangard was one of six new Russian strategic weapons unveiled by Russian president Vladimir Putin on 1 March 2018.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Avangard Авангард • Type — Hypersonic glide vehicle • Origin — Russia • Is Ranged — Yes • Is Explosive — Yes • Is Missile — Yes • Service — 2019–present • Used By — Strategic Rocket Forces • Designer — Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology • Manufacturer — Votkinsk Machine Building Plant • Production Date — 2018–present • Mass — ~2 tonnes • Length — 5.4 m • Yield — unknown • Launch Platform — ICBM R-36M2, RS-28, UR-100
History
History
• Illustration — Launch of the UR-100UTTKh ICBM, carrying the Avangard HGV, Dombarovsky Air Base, 26 December 2018 According to Russian president Vladimir Putin, the US withdrawal from the ABM Treaty in 2002 forced Russia to start developing hypersonic weapons: "We had to create these [hypersonic] weapons in response to the US deployment of a strategic missile defense system, which in the future would be capable of virtually neutralizing, zeroing out all our nuclear potential." In 2007, when asked about U.S. plans to deploy ballistic missile defenses in Europe, Putin mentioned that Russia was developing "strategic weapons systems of a completely different type that will fly at hypersonic speed and will be able to change trajectory both in terms of altitude and direction". In October 2016, a flight test was carried out using a R-36M2 heavy ICBM launched from Dombarovsky Air Base, reportedly successfully hitting a target at the Kura Missile Test Range. This was reportedly the first fully successful test of the glide vehicle. On 1 March 2018, Putin, in his presidential address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow, announced that testing of the weapon is now complete and that it has entered serial production. This was further confirmed by the commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces, Colonel General Sergey Karakayev. On 19 September 2020, Herbert Yefremov, an Advisor for Science at the NPO Mashinostroyenia, was awarded the Order of St. Andrew for his contributions to the development of Avangard.
Design
Design
HGVs differ from traditional ballistic missile warheads by virtue of their ability to maneuver and operate at lower altitudes. The combination of maneuverability and high speed poses significant challenges for conventional missile defense. With the advantage again swinging toward attack, R. Jeffrey Smith speculates that weapons of this type will reignite the kind of arms race that dominated the Cold War era. According to open-source analysis by Janes Information Services, Avangard is a pure glide vehicle without an independent propulsion system. When approaching a target, the glider supposedly is capable of sharp high speed horizontal and vertical evasive maneuvers in flight. Russia has claimed that the Avangard can reach speeds of over Mach 20.
Operators
Operators
Russia • Strategic Rocket Forces – The Strategic Rocket Forces are the only operator of the Avangard HGV. As of May 2025, 12 Avangard-equipped UR-100N UTTHs are deployed with the 13th Red Banner Rocket Division at Yasny, Orenburg Oblast.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Russia.
Country
Avangard is associated with Russia.
Country
Primary material
Digitised editions and texts
[Avangard 2009] Brochure — Internet Archive.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 131325245X, OAO "Avangard".
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q55604542: Avangard
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
Literature
Literature
Literature
FROM AVANGARD TO AVANGARD. Eco-friendly approach to electro-mobility (Avangard approach), MATEC Web of Conferences, 2021
Scholarly footprint
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Первый ракетный полк "Авангарда" заступил на боевое дежурство. TASS. 27 December 2019.
- 2.В России запустили серийное производство гиперзвуковой ракеты "Авангард". РБК. 19 July 2018.
- 3.Avangard. missilethreat.csis.org. 27 September 2019.
- 4.Шахты "Авангарда". Почему гиперзвуковые блоки решили ставить на Урале. 18 December 2018.
- 5.Avangard (Hypersonic Glide Vehicle). Missile Defense Advocacy Agency.
- 6.Majumdar, Dave. We Now Know How Russia's New Avangard Hypersonic Boost-Glide Weapon Will Launch. The National Interest. 20 March 2018.
- 7.Russia to use SS-19 ICBMs as carriers for Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles — source.
- 8.Trevithick, Joseph. Here's The Six Super Weapons Putin Unveiled During Fiery Address. March 2018.
- 9.Russia's New Avangard Hypersonic Missile System To Enter Service By 2019. www.defenseworld.net.
- 10.Introducing 'Avangard' and 'Sarmat': Putin shows off new hypersonic, nuclear missiles. National Post. 1 March 2018.
- 11.Russia loads missile with nuclear-capable glide vehicle into launch silo. BBC.
- 12.Putin named the reason for the development of hypersonic weapons. 19 September 2020.
- 13.Hyper-glide Delivery Systems and the Implications for Strategic Stability and Arms Reductions. April 2015.
- 14.Эксперт об "изделии 4202": теперь США будут меньше бряцать оружием. Ria. 28 October 2016.
- 15.ЦАМТО / Новости / Траектория полета ракеты "Авангард" проходит на высоте десятков километров. Armstrade.
- 16.Kremlin.ru. Conversation with Gerbert Yefremov. 19 September 2020.
- 17.Reif, Kingston. Pentagon Tests Hypersonic Glide Body. armscontrol.org. Arms Control Association. April 2020.
- 18.Smith, R. Jeffrey. Hypersonic Missiles Are Unstoppable. And They're Starting a New Global Arms Race. The New York Times. 19 June 2019.
- 19.Jane's Information Group. Russia unveils new strategic delivery systems. www.janes.com. 2018.
- 20.Russia deploys Avangard hypersonic missile system. BBC News. 2019-12-27.
- 21.russianforces.org. Avangard missiles put on combat duty in Russia's southern Urals.
- 22.ЦАМТО / / В Оренбургской области завершены работы по перевооружению очередного полка соединения РВСН на РК «Авангард». ЦАМТО / Центр анализа мировой торговли оружием. 2023-12-18.
- 23.Podvig, Pavel. New Avangard positions at Dombarovskiy. Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. 2025-05-28.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 1
- Andrew Cockburn, "Like a Ball of Fire: Andrew Cockburn on hypersonic weaponry", London Review of Books, vol. 42, no. 5 (5 March 2020), pp. 31–32.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 131325245X, OAO "Avangard".Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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