Russia's "unstoppable" sarmat missile plagued by failures
The Russian RS-28 Sarmat missile, previously touted as invincible, is encountering significant technical issues. According to Defense Romania, its latest test ended with an explosion in the silo. Reports suggest that the Russians are attempting to conceal these failures with the deployment of Orieshnik missiles.
The Russian RS-28 Sarmat ballistic missile, which was supposed to be unbeatable, is facing serious technical problems. Defense Romania reports that during a test in September 2024, the missile exploded in the launch silo at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, causing considerable infrastructure damage. This incident, despite Russian attempts to hide it, was confirmed by satellite images.
Problems with new technology
The Sarmat was intended to replace the older R-36M (Voevoda) missiles, in use since the 1970s. However, issues with the project could affect further testing and implementation. This situation forces Russia to continue relying on older missiles, the supply of which is limited, and to seek alternatives to the RS-28 Sarmat. It's important to note that intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are a crucial component of Russia's deterrence strategy. Fabian Hoffmann from the Oslo Nuclear Project, cited by Defense Romania, believes that due to the substantial investments and propaganda surrounding the Sarmat, canceling the project is unlikely.
While Russia grapples with technical issues, other countries, such as China and the U.S., are advancing new technologies. China is already deploying DF-41 missiles, and the U.S. is modernizing its nuclear forces under the Sentinel program. This situation places Russia in a tough spot, compelling it to accelerate work on the RS-28 Sarmat missiles. This is especially pressing since Vladimir Putin has repeatedly praised the RS-28 Sarmat as an unstoppable weapon, asserting that missile defense systems are ineffective against it.
Defense Romania points out that the issues Russians face with the RS-28 Sarmat project might be obscured by the Orieshnik missiles, which present significant challenges for Ukrainians. The exact specifications of the new Russian missile remain unclear. According to some sources, Orieshnik was designed to carry nuclear warheads, can travel at speeds of up to Mach 10, and was most likely based on the RS-26 Rubezh missile. Interestingly, during attacks on Ukraine, the Russians did not use combat warheads; instead, the Orieshnik contained so-called size-weight equivalents.
