Russia already has a stockpile of Oreshnik missile systems, and a decision on the system's mass production has been made, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced.
"We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia, especially since we already have a stockpile of such systems ready for use," Putin said.
The achievements and pace of development of the Oreshnik system inspire pride and admiration, and developments in the defense sector like the Oreshnik are of vital importance for Russia's security, Putin added.
"The weapons system that was tested yesterday is yet another reliable guarantor of Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," the president said. "The creators of the Oreshnik missile system - those who designed and organized the production of this new complex, will certainly be nominated for state awards."
Oreshnik is not a modernization of an older system, according to Putin, but the fruit of the work of Russia's modern-day scientists.
If used in a massive attack against enemy targets, the destructive power of the Oreshnik system is comparable to that of a strategic nuclear weapon, Putin said, emphasizing that no effective countermeasures to the system exist.
"Keeping in mind the great power of this weapon, it will be put into service with the Strategic Missile Forces specifically," Putin said.
"In addition to the Oreshnik system, several systems of this kind are currently in development for further testing in Russia today," Putin said. "Based on the results of testing, these weapons will also go into production. That is, we are developing a whole lineup of medium and shorter-range systems."
The Oreshnik hypersonic missile system made its combat debut in Ukraine's Dnepropetrovsk region on Thursday, reportedly targeting a major defense-related production facility.
In a televised address Thursday evening, Putin explained that the strike was a response to the decision by the US and Britain to lift restrictions on Kiev's use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles against targets deep inside Russia in Bryansk and Kursk regions earlier in the week.
"We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. In the event of an escalation or aggressive actions, we will respond equally decisively and symmetrically," Putin warned during Thursday's address.
In September, the Russian president emphasized that the approval to use long-range NATO strike systems to target areas deep inside Russia would constitute the Western alliance's direct participation in the proxy war in Ukraine against Moscow, because only NATO servicemen have the authority to make flight assignments for these missile systems.
"So this is not about whether or not to allow the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia using these weapons, but about deciding whether or not NATO countries are directly involved in the military conflict or not. If such a decision is taken, it will mean nothing short of direct participation of NATO countries, the United States, European countries, in the war in Ukraine. This would constitute their direct participation, and this, of course, changes the very essence, the very nature of the conflict. It will mean that NATO countries, the United States and European countries, are at war with Russia. And if this is so, bearing in mind the change in the very nature of the conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be posed to us," Putin said at the time.