MOSCOW, Apr 20 — RIA Novosti, Nikolay Protopopov. The first launch of the world's most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile RS-28 "Sarmat" was completed successfully: tests confirmed the design characteristics of the complex at all stages of the flight. ICBMs are expected to be put into service by the end of the year.
Guaranteed destruction
The stationary-based rocket was launched from the mine launcher of the Plesetsk State test cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region. The training combat units arrived in a given area at the Kura training ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Ministry of Defense reported that in comparison with previous ICBMs, the Sarmat, thanks to its energy and mass characteristics, has radically expanded the range of combat equipment both in terms of the number of blocks and their types. Even hypersonic gliders are provided.
The new missile, the ministry added, "is capable of hitting targets at long ranges using various flight paths." In addition, the unique characteristics of ICBMs make it possible to reliably overcome any existing and promising missile defense systems.
The world's most powerful missile with a maximum target range will significantly strengthen the combat potential of the country's strategic nuclear forces, the Defense Ministry said.
Testing of the new Sarmat ballistic missile
Image source: © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin congratulated the Russian army on the successful test and noted that the missile has no analogues in the world.
"This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed Forces, reliably ensure Russia's security from external threats and make those who, in the heat of frenzied aggressive rhetoric, are trying to threaten our country think," the president said.
He stressed that Sarmat was created only from domestic components, components and parts. This will simplify serial production and accelerate the transfer of the missile system to the troops.
Launch of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile at the Plesetsk cosmodrome
Image source:
Signal to the world
In December, the commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Sergei Karakaev, announced that the first regiment of the Sarmat ICBM would take up combat duty at the end of 2022 in the Uzhur Missile Division (Krasnoyarsk Territory). Now the infrastructure is being prepared there.
"Sarmat" is a weapon of the highest capabilities, no one has that yet. The next tests showed that the rocket is almost ready to launch into a series," explained Konstantin Sokolov, Vice President of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems. — It is a tool not only for military influence, but also for psychological influence. First of all, Sarmat is a guarantee of our security. And as long as we have such types of weapons, a direct attack on Russia is impossible. The opponents will use a proxy war, combined, but no one will enter our territory."
The tactical and technical characteristics of the Sarmat were partially disclosed for the first time at the Army-2019 forum. The range is a record 18 thousand kilometers, the length of the rocket is 35.5 meters, the diameter is three. The ICBM will deliver from ten to 15 warheads to the target, depending on their power. The RS-28 is designed for hypersonic guided Avangard combat units accelerating in the atmosphere up to Mach 15 numbers.
"Sarmat" will replace the "Voivode" complex, created back in the USSR. Everyone recognized his high combat effectiveness. But the new missile has much wider capabilities: with a weight of over 200 tons, there is a short active flight section, which makes it difficult to intercept by missile defense means. More range, number and power of combat units.
Loading of the Sarmat ballistic missile before launch during testing
Image source: © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Emphasis on hypersound
I must say, "Sarmat" is not the only novelty in the RVSN. We have successfully tested and launched a promising strategic missile complex "Avangard" with a fundamentally new combat equipment — a planning cruise unit.
Vladimir Putin earlier called it a "real technological breakthrough." Unlike conventional types of combat equipment, the new system can fly in dense layers of the atmosphere for an intercontinental range at a hypersonic speed exceeding the Mach number by more than 20 times. When moving towards the target, the planning winged unit performs deep maneuvering — both laterally and in height, which makes it invulnerable to any air defense and missile defense systems.
According to the President, the industry managed to solve the problem of "uncontrollability" of hypersonic vehicles on the flight path thanks to new composite materials. The combat unit goes to the target almost like a meteorite, like a fireball: the temperature on the surface reaches 1600-2000 degrees. But at the same time it is reliably controlled.
Another unique hypersonic project is the Dagger aviation missile system. The tactical and technical characteristics of the missile are not disclosed for obvious reasons, but it is known that the Dagger is already on combat duty and was successfully used for the first time on a ground target during a special military operation in Ukraine.
The Avangard missile system was installed in a mine near Orenburg
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation