The Kremlin has denied US claims that Russia's nuclear-powered cruise missile with “unlimited” range crashed after only 22 miles.
The weapon was one of a range of “invincible” nuclear arms announced by Vladimir Putin during a speech in March.
But sources with direct knowledge of a US intelligence report told CNBC that four tests of the missile between November and February all resulted in crashes.
The longest flight lasted two minutes and covered 22 miles, while shortest ended only four seconds and five miles after launch, they said.
Vladimir Putin first touted the cruise missile during a sabre-rattling March speech in which he said Russia had developed “invincible” nuclear arms including a glider warhead, hypersonic missile and underwater drone. One of the accompanying computer animations showed warheads raining down on Florida.
The “Dagger” hypersonic missiles Mr Putin mentioned were later displayed on the belly of MiG-31 jets roaring over Red Square during the annual Victory Day parade this month.
The new nuclear weapons were designed to overcome US missile defence systems in countries like Poland and Romania, which “violate the strategic balance” between nuclear powers, he argued.
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