In what should be a groundbreaking development, the intercontinental ballistic missile “RS-28 Sarmat” has apparently suffered its fourth major setback. The “world destroyer missile,” dubbed “Satan II” by NATO, exploded in its missile silo. The Kremlin has remained tight-lipped about the incident.
It is a “truly unique weapon that will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces,” Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin enthused shortly after the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine. So far, however, it has only been an announcement: in early September, a new test attempt with the missile probably went seriously wrong.
60-meter-long crater instead of a rocket launch site
Satellite images from the American company Maxar should prove this: on September 21, they recorded a large crater with a diameter of about 60 meters – directly at the launch silo at the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia. The images also indicate further damage in the area, of which nothing was visible at the beginning of this month.
This is likely the fourth failure since the development of Putin’s weapon from hell began. It was supposed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads and be the world’s largest intercontinental ballistic missile. President Putin had already announced the alleged super missile in 2018. In mid-2023, he stated that the Sarmat missile systems “will enter combat use in the near future.” International arms experts were skeptical.
“Incomparable” weapon with bribes
According to the Russian president, the new Sarmat missile will have a range of 18,000 kilometers – this is “incomparable,” Putin said, because it could also overcome defense systems for nuclear warheads.
With a take-off weight of over 208 tons. The system can carry up to 15 nuclear warheads with multiple independently controllable reentry bodies, as well as several hypersonic Avangard glide bodies.
It is unclear what exactly went wrong during the test of the LPG-powered Sarmat. The satellite images also do not show whether it was an accident during refueling or a failure during a start attempt.
“There was a serious incident”
“Apparently it was a failed test,” analyst Pawel Podwig explained on the short-message platform X (formerly Twitter). “There is a big hole in the ground,” he explained of the footage: “There was a serious incident with the rocket and the silo.”
There is no official confirmation of the incident yet; the Kremlin remains steadfastly silent about it. There have been no announcements about planned tests in recent days.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
