Looks like Russia’s big, bad missile – the RS-28 Sarmat, also known as “Satan II” – may have hit a snag. Satellite images from late September seem to show a failed test of the missile, raising fresh concerns about Russia’s nuclear program.
Experts looking at these images think Russia tried launching the massive 35-meter missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but it didn’t go as planned. The RS-28, often called “the world’s deadliest weapon” in both Russian and international media, is stirring up worry because of its rumored destructive power.
The satellite images, first posted on social media platform X by an open-source analyst named “MeNMyRC,” show what looks like a huge crater at a launch site in Plesetsk, northern Russia. “The test was a complete failure,” MeNMyRC wrote. According to them, the missile blew up inside the silo, leaving a giant hole and wrecking the site.
They also speculated that the explosion might have happened during fueling, rather than during launch, which would explain why there weren’t any supervising aircraft typically seen at test launches. If they’re right, this would be the fourth failed test of the RS-28, with the only successful one happening back in April 2022.
Why Does This Matter for Putin?
According to Matt Korda, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), this missile is meant to replace an older model – the RS-20V Voevoda, which has been in Russia’s arsenal for over 30 years. Russia has been working to swap out all its Cold War-era missiles, and the RS-28 is supposed to be the last piece of that puzzle.
For President Putin, getting this missile into service is more than just about military power; it’s politically significant. The RS-28 has been in the works since it was first announced in 2014, with officials promising it would be ready by 2020. But, production and testing have been repeatedly delayed.
Korda pointed out that the RS-28 still hasn’t officially entered service, saying that both production and testing have faced significant setbacks.
What Can the RS-28 Do?
Russian media has hyped the RS-28 as a game-changing weapon that can carry up to 16 nuclear warheads, though Korda suggests the real number is likely closer to 10. It also has an impressive range of 18,000 km and weighs over 208 tons, making it a heavyweight in Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
In October 2023, Putin claimed the RS-28 was ready for deployment, though he mentioned some paperwork and administrative hurdles still needed to be cleared before it could be officially rolled out.
He also emphasized that the RS-28 is meant to act as a deterrent against military escalation from the U.S., referencing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which Russia ratified but the U.S. hasn’t.
What’s Next for the RS-28?
Despite the recent failures, Russia isn’t giving up on the RS-28 anytime soon. Satellite images show that construction is already underway at sites in southern Siberia to support the missile’s deployment. While we don’t know exactly when the RS-28 will be combat-ready, it’s clear Russia is pushing forward with it, despite the setbacks.
For now, we’ll have to wait and see if this latest failure is just another bump in the road or a sign of bigger issues with the program.
