Ukraine and the US have “no defence” against Russian missiles, a former US Army chief has warned. Former US Lieutenant Daniel Davis emphasised that both countries are vulnerable to Russia‘s advanced hypersonic Zircon missiles.
Davis’s warning comes in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s visit to North Korea, where he denounced the “imperialist policy of the US and its allies.” This visit has raised new security concerns among Western nations.
In an interview with GBN America, Davis explained the formidable capabilities of the Zircon missiles, noting: “As best as I’m aware, from talking to some well-known experts, there is no defence against those hypersonic missiles right now.”
He highlighted the growing disparity between offensive and defensive technologies, warning that every nation is at risk due to the advanced offensive capabilities of these missiles.
“Really, for anybody, any nation right now, the technology for defence hasn’t caught up to the technology for offence so far,” he added. “And so those missiles can penetrate our defence systems.”
Davis also mentioned that the West and its allies possess similar missile technology that is equally difficult to intercept.
He said: “Frankly, it’s nothing that’s really new, per se, because all sides – China, Russia, the United States, several in Europe already have missiles that are fast enough that can’t be intercepted. So it doesn’t necessarily represent a new threat, but it is something that is in a new category within that threat.”
He addressed the potential for escalating tensions, particularly with the threat of nuclear conflict.
“That means that you have to take things seriously,” he continued.
“Because if things get sideways and we start even talking about nuclear war, which would be absurd, we have to understand that if the missiles like that are fired against us, we don’t have good defences to stop them.”
Discussing President Joe Biden’s efforts to counter these threats, Davis pointed to recent Russian military exercises near the US coast and revealed that the American military is closely monitoring these activities.
He said: “He [Putin] just doesn’t like the Biden administration. It’s right off the Florida coast, he’s going to be kind of angsty about it. If they’re in international waters, they have a legal right to be there.
“What we have done is we’ve sent some of our ships out to shadow them. So beyond that, I really don’t think there’s anything else that could be done.”