Russian "Satan" missile explodes in silo, creating massive crater
According to the Defense Romania portal, citing publications in Russian media, the Russian Federation conducted a test launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile RS-28 "Satan" around September 21, 2024. However, the exercises did not go as planned, as the missile exploded while still in its launch silo, causing significant damage.
2:23 PM EDT, September 23, 2024
Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, recently touted the RS-28 "Satan" intercontinental missile. He noted that the missile "needs 3 minutes and 20 seconds" to reach Strasbourg, France. His response followed discussions among Western allies about permitting Ukrainians to conduct long-range strikes deep into the Russian Federation.
Russians' "scare tactic"
The missile, intended to be a "scare tactic," is proving problematic – its launch has failed once again. The first malfunction, as reported by Defense Romania, occurred in February 2023. Now, at the Plesetsk testing range in the Arkhangelsk region, there was another incident involving "Satan". According to reports, the missile exploded directly in the silo, destroying the entire testing range.
The effects of the missile explosion can be seen in satellite images provided by Maxar. As a result of the RS-28 explosion in the silo, an over 200-foot wide crater visible from space was created. The pictures also show damage to a nearby building, although it is unclear whether any personnel responsible for flight control were inside at the time of the launch attempt.
RS-28 "Satan" missile
The RS-28 "Satan," whose test launch ended in failure, is a three-stage liquid-fuel missile measuring 116 feet in length and weighing 458,000 pounds. It can carry 10 heavy or 15 lighter nuclear warheads over a distance of 11,200 miles. The missile reaches speeds of 15,534 mph, meaning it can cover up to 4.3 miles in a second. After launch, it can remain airborne for several hours and perform maneuvers, significantly complicating its interception by anti-missile defence systems.
The RS-28 is characterized by its immense power, capable of leveling areas the size of France or the state of Texas. Russia remains the only country possessing this weapon.
