Dmitry Paison, director of the rocket and missile manufacturer TsNIIMash (the Central Research Institute of Machine Building), based at Korolyev near Moscow, has been fired over allegations of espionage within his company.
One of his employees, Victor Kudryavtsev, 74, had been accused of releasing details of Russia’s hypersonic cruise missile programme to the West. While high-arcing ballistic missiles are faster, hypersonic cruise missiles are gaining military favour as their lower altitude means they provide less radar warning time.
Air-dropped hypersonic missile carried by Mig-31. Courtesy: Russian Ministry of Defence via BBC
