A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced physicist Alexander Shiplyuk to 15 years in prison on treason charges, the latest in a series of cases targeting scientists involved in Russia’s hypersonic missile programs. Shiplyuk, the 57-year-old director of the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM) in Novosibirsk, was arrested in August 2022. His trial, like many others involving treason in Russia, was held behind closed doors.
The charges against Shiplyuk are part of a broader crackdown on experts working on Russia’s cutting-edge hypersonic weapons, a technology President Vladimir Putin has touted as giving Russia a strategic advantage on the global stage. Multiple treason allegations against Russian scientists have emerged in recent years, particularly those related to hypersonic missile technology. Shiplyuk’s conviction follows the sentencing of his colleague, Anatoly Maslov, 78, to 14 years in prison in May on similar charges. Another scientist, Valery Zvegintsev, has also been detained, though his case remains ongoing.
According to sources familiar with the case, Shiplyuk was suspected of handing over classified materials at a 2017 scientific conference in China. Several other Russian scientists arrested on treason charges have also been accused of sharing secrets with Beijing.
Hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), are a significant advancement in military technology. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a predictable parabolic trajectory, hypersonic missiles can maneuver within the atmosphere, making them much harder to detect and intercept. Russia has been at the forefront of hypersonic missile development, with President Putin claiming that these weapons provide Russia with a unique strategic advantage.
Among the most notable of these are the Zircon and Kinzhal missiles. The Zircon is a sea-launched missile capable of traveling at nine times the speed of sound with a range of 1,000 kilometers. Its speed and maneuverability make it nearly impossible for current air defense systems to intercept. The Kinzhal, on the other hand, is an air-launched ballistic missile that can reach speeds of over 11,000 kilometers per hour. It is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, adding to its strategic significance.
Both of these hypersonic weapons have been described by Russian officials as unrivaled in the world, though their actual effectiveness remains a subject of debate. The Kinzhal, for instance, has been reported by Ukraine to have been shot down by US-supplied Patriot air defense systems, a claim that Russia disputes.
Russia is not alone in its pursuit of hypersonic weaponry. China has also reportedly deployed hypersonic missiles, and the United States is actively testing several hypersonic weapons programs. The rapid development of these technologies by multiple countries has raised concerns about a new arms race, with hypersonic missiles potentially altering the balance of power in future conflicts.
