Russia launches its ‘most powerful’ missile, which Putin claims can hit any target on the planet

*Paromita Das

Despite tensions with NATO over Ukraine, Russia successfully launched its intercontinental ballistic missile “Sarmat” from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region. On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed this.

Putin told the army in televised remarks on Wednesday, “I congratulate you on the successful launch of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile.”

“This truly unique weapon will strengthen our armed forces’ combat potential, reliably ensure Russia’s security from external threats, and make those who, in the heat of aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country think twice,” Putin said.
“A Sarmat fixed-based intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully launched from a silo launcher today at 15:12 Moscow time at the Plesetsk state test cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

“The launch tasks have all been completed. At every stage of flight, the design characteristics have been confirmed. At the Kura training ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula, training warheads have arrived in a specific area “According to the report.

The Sarmat superheavy intercontinental ballistic missile is designed to avoid anti-missile defense systems by having a brief initial boost phase, giving adversary surveillance systems a small window to follow it.

Putin claims that the rocket, which can carry multiple warheads and weighs more than 200 tons, can hit any target on Earth.

Sarmat: Russia’s most powerful nuclear weapon

A few years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted about developing a number of “invincible” weapons capable of outperforming existing systems, such as the Sarmat intercontinental missiles and the Burevestnik cruise missiles.

In recent years, the Kremlin strongman has scored a number of battlefield – and foreign policy – victories, which have helped boost his popularity despite domestic economic malaise. Russia launched an air campaign in Syria in 2015, turning the tide of a complex conflict in favor of the Damascus regime.

A year ago, Russian special forces assisted the Kremlin in capturing Crimea from Ukraine in a largely bloodless military operation.
As Putin’s regime prepares to meet NATO’s challenge in Europe, the Russian defense ministry has already fine-tuned its ICBM strategy for future display.

Sarmat’s massive force

The Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) will begin replacing Voyevoda intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) currently in service with the new Sarmat missiles in 2022, amid tensions with Ukraine in December last year as Russian troops began gathering at the border.

Russia will now rely heavily on the intercontinental ballistic missile Sarmat. According to news reports, the RS-28 Sarmat is a Russian advanced silo-based system with a heavy liquid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile.

It has been in the works since the early 2000s to replace the ageing R-36M2 Voyevoda ICBM.

Putin’s nuclear arsenal

According to reports, Russia completed R&D on the Sarmat in 2011 and conducted its first silo ejection test in 2017. It was scheduled to enter service in 2018.

The heavy ICBM is expected to be deployed in Uzhur, home of the Uzhur Rocket Division. Sarmat is one of six new Strategic weapons under development, with a range of 18,000 kilometers, according to reports.

It’s one of six new weapons of mass destruction announced by Putin four years ago, along with the Tsirkon, Avangard, Poseidon, Kinzhal, and a nuclear-powered cruise missile.
The Sarmat ICBM can fly from the North Pole to the South Pole.
The Sarmat is said to be capable of delivering multiple targetable reentry vehicles around the world.

The missile is capable of flying from the North Pole to the South Pole and intercepting missiles.

It can transport reentry vehicles such as hypersonic Avangard gliders. The Sarmat is slated to be Russia’s most powerful nuclear weapon.

Russia’s road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles

R-36M2 missiles, the Topol (SS-25) road-mobile missile system, the Topol-M (SS-27) silo systems, and the Yars mobile systems are among Russia’s upgraded missiles.

According to reports, Russia is looking to phase out the Topol system, which is a Soviet leftover. As Russia strives for missile dominance, the Kedr system will eventually replace the Yars units.

According to a 2017 Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, Russia retains approximately 1,200 nuclear warheads for ICBMs, but it has a rapid upgrade program for its ICBMs.

According to reports, the development of the solid-fuel Kedr ICBM will take place next year or early in 2024. The Russian missile forces operate a number of road-mobile ICBM units, the majority of which were developed during the Soviet era.

Russia’s intercontinental ballistic missile force

According to a US Congress report, Russia’s Strategic Rocket Forces currently have three missile armies and 11 missile divisions.

The Russian Federation maintains a nuclear triad of ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers. According to the report, Russia has more than a dozen strategic nuclear bases spread across its territory.

Russia’s intercontinental ballistic missile force currently consists of 310 missiles capable of carrying up to 1,189 warheads. Clearly, Russia’s overwhelming military strength can easily overpower Ukraine, which has Western officials concerned.

Russia is also working on the Sarmat, a new heavy ICBM (SS-X-30).