2018年CRI Russia develops new strategic weapons to counter U.S. challenges: Putin（在线收听）

President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated Russian power in his annual address to the parliament on Thursday, two weeks before the presidential election when he will seek a fourth term.

CRI's Yu Yang has the story.

In a record two-hour speech, Putin used multi-media to show off Russia's newest strategic weapons, described as capable of penetrating any U.S. defense system.

He said Russia has begun testing Sarmat, a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile, which has "practically no range limits" as it is capable of attacking across both the South and North Poles.

Putin said the new weapons also include a nuclear-powered underwater drone and new a hypersonic missile that has no equivalent elsewhere in the world.

"I can say that Russia has developed underwater drones which can move on a big - I would say very big - depth, and for intercontinental distance, with a speed many times higher than that of submarines, most modern torpedoes and all kinds of ships, even the fastest ones. This is fantastic."

Putin also said the strategic weapons do not use ballistic flight trajectories, making NATO's missile shields "useless and senseless."

Meanwhile, U.S. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White says the Defense Department isn't surprised by Putin's claims of new nuclear weapons.

She says America's missile defense has never been about Russia and the U.S. military is prepared to defend the nation.

"They know very well that it's not about them. Our missile defense has never been about them. We need to ensure we have a credible, nuclear deterrent. And we are confident that we are prepared to do, and we're prepared to defend this nation no matter what."

In his speech, Putin also promised to boost Russia's economy and improve living standards in the years to come.

The president says it is necessary to allocate at least 4 percent of the country's GDP from 2019 to 2024 to improve people's health.

Putin will compete with seven other presidential candidates in an election slated for March 18.

He is widely expected to win with a landslide given his high approval ratings.

For CRI, this is Yu Yang.