Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that the new generation of Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, known as “Satan 2”, will soon be deployed. These missiles are capable of carrying 10 or more nuclear warheads and are described by Western experts as the most powerful in the world.
The Sarmat missile is designed to replace old ballistic missiles from the Soviet era and is capable of overcoming all modern means of anti-missile defense. It is part of Russia’s efforts to strengthen its armed forces, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which is receiving support from Western countries including the United States and Britain.
According to Russian military expert Shatilov Minikaev, Moscow has been focusing on developing its nuclear triad (land, air, and sea nuclear forces) to ensure national security. This includes providing modern armaments to countries like Egypt, as well as the development of hypersonic missiles and the intercontinental Sarmat.
The Sarmat missile, also known as the RS-28, is capable of carrying a nuclear payload large enough to wipe out an area the size of Texas. It can nullify advanced anti-missile defense systems and has a range of 11 to 18 thousand kilometers. With a maximum speed of more than Mach 20, it is classified as the most powerful and longest-range missile in the world. Its nuclear warheads are designed to reach their targets in ways that make them difficult to destroy by missile defense systems.
The Sarmat missile has various nicknames, including the Doomsday missile and “Satan 2”. It has been described by Putin as the “King of Missiles” and is considered a major threat by NATO. The Russian armed forces are preparing to arm the main missile regiment with this new missile system.
The announcement of the deployment of the Sarmat missile has raised concerns among experts. Julie Mitrokhin, a specialist in international politics at the Ukrainian Tavrisky University, expressed concern about Moscow’s nuclear threats and the transfer of new weapons to Belarus. The United States and its President, Joe Biden, also believe that Putin may not tolerate the use of tactical nuclear weapons or copies of the Sarmat missile in the future, especially with the growing threats of war.
Russia currently has the largest stockpile of nuclear warheads in the world, with a total of 5,977 warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists. The United States follows closely with 5,428 warheads, while France and the United Kingdom have significantly fewer warheads. Approximately 90 percent of all nuclear warheads are owned by Russia and the United States.
With the deployment of the Sarmat missile, Russia’s nuclear dominance is further solidified. The capabilities of this missile, combined with Russia’s large stockpile of warheads, pose a significant threat to global security.
How does the deployment of the new generation Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles impact Russia’s national security and its response to the conflict with Ukraine?
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that the new generation of Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, known as “Satan 2”, will soon be deployed. These missiles are considered the most powerful in the world by Western experts, as they are capable of carrying 10 or more nuclear warheads.
The Sarmat missile is designed to replace the outdated ballistic missiles from the Soviet era and is able to surpass all current anti-missile defense systems. This development is part of Russia’s efforts to bolster its armed forces, particularly in response to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which is receiving support from Western countries such as the United States and Britain.
Russian military expert Shatilov Minikaev has explained that Moscow has been focusing on advancing its nuclear triad, which includes land, air, and sea nuclear forces, in order to ensure national security. These efforts extend to providing modern armaments to allies such as Egypt, as well as the development of hypersonic missiles and the intercontinental Sarmat.
“The development of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles by Russia showcases the nation’s continued commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities. This new generation of missiles highlights Russia’s technological advancements and readiness to ensure its national security.”
“The deployment of Russia’s advanced Sarmat missiles marks a significant step in modernizing their defense capabilities. These intercontinental ballistic missiles demonstrate Russia’s determination to maintain a strong and formidable defense posture on the global stage.”