German newspaper Bild reported on December 27 that according to an internal report from the German Foreign Ministry, the German army (Bundeswehr) currently has no weapons capable of dealing with the Russian advanced hypersonic missile. "The patriot system is not suitable for countering ballistic missiles like the Oreshnik. Interception is like waiting for luck" - the document was written.
The reason why the Oreshnik is dangerous is said to be due to its extremely fast speed, high mobility and detachable warhead, making interception almost impossible.
Bild reported that the German Foreign Ministry has requested an internal analysis of ballistic missile defense capabilities, assigning the Bundeswehr's liaison officer at the Foreign Ministry to coordinate with air defense experts under the Ministry of Defense.
A military expert said that the move was not motivated by any specific reason, such as an upcoming high-level visit. "This reality is well known by the Ministry of National Defense and appropriate measures have been taken for a long time," the expert told Bild.
The German Foreign Ministry spokesman declined to comment.
On November 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the first deployment of the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile against the Yuzhmash defense plant in the city of Dnepr, Ukraine. The launch was in response to Ukraine's attacks on targets in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions using ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles from the US and UK.
With a range of up to 5,000 km and the ability to "not be intercepted", Oreshnik is considered a strategic card in Russia's hands. President Putin later stressed that Moscow was ready to use the Oreshnik again if necessary, but would not make hasty decisions.
President Putin also noted that Russia is testing a number of systems similar to the Oreshnik; these systems in the world today have no similar types. In the case of group use, such a missile attack can be compared to the use of nuclear weapons, but these are not weapons of mass destruction.
Bild's article not only highlights Germany's defense weaknesses but also raises big questions about the entire NATO's preparation for the threat from Russia's modern weapons systems.
