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Putin Claims Missile Test: Sarmat Ready for Combat Duty

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful testing of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which Moscow claims will be ready for combat deployment by year-end. The missile is touted as the successor to the SS-18 ICBM, boasting a claimed range over 35,000 kilometers and a payload capacity of up to 16 nuclear warheads. This announcement followed a scaled-back Victory Day Parade, where Putin cited the need for military focus on Ukraine as the reason for the reduced display of force. Analysts note the missile's liquid fuel requirement and the political timing of the announcement.

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Putin Claims Missile Test: Sarmat Ready for Combat Duty

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile system, which NATO refers to as "Satan II," successfully completed testing and will be ready for combat deployment by the end of the year.

Missile Capabilities and Comparison

The Sarmat ICBM is reported to possess significant capabilities, according to the announcement:

  • Reported Range: Over 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles), with Putin claiming a range exceeding 35,000 kilometers (21,750 miles).
  • Payload Capacity: It is stated to be capable of carrying up to 16 independently targeted nuclear warheads.
  • Yield Claim: Putin asserted that the combined yield of its payload is more than four times greater than any existing Western counterpart.

For context, the US LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM has a range of approximately 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles) and is designed to carry up to three warheads, though it is deployed with only one.

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Development and Context

  • Successor to SS-18: The silo-launched Sarmat is identified by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) as the intended replacement for Russia's SS-18 ICBM, which was first deployed during the Soviet era.
  • Development Timeline: The RS-28 Sarmat has been under development since 2011, reportedly facing testing difficulties that delayed its initial deployment plan from 2018.
  • Technical Note: Reports indicate that the Sarmat missile is liquid-fueled, necessitating fueling shortly before launch, which is noted as a potential disadvantage compared to solid-fueled missiles.

Political Timing and Security Concerns

The timing of the missile announcement is notable, occurring shortly after the Victory Day Parade on May 9.

  • Parade Scale: The commemoration, marking the Soviet victory in WWII, was significantly scaled down compared to previous years, with no military hardware displayed for nearly two decades.
  • Official Rationale: Putin stated that the reduced display was because the Russian armed forces needed to focus on the "decisive defeat of the enemy" in the ongoing "special military operation" in Ukraine.
  • Security Focus: The Kremlin dismissed a European intelligence report suggesting a dramatic increase in personal security surrounding Putin and a reduction in his usual travel locations.
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