Russian Army to get RS-28 Sarmat missiles in 2021
The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles will be added to the Russian armed forces’ arsenal in 2021, Deputy Defence Minister Aleksey Krivoruchko announced.
The system is expected to replace the Voevoda (РС-20В Satan), the heaviest strategic missile in the world.
The RS-28 Sarmat (NATO: SS-X-29 or SS-X-30) is a liquid-fueled, MIRV-equipped, heavy thermonuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The Sarmat is expected to be capable to carry about 10 tonnes of payload for either up to 10 heavy or 15 light MIRV warheads, up to 3 Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs).
Testing of the Sarmat missile system has already been completed at Russia’s Plesetsk spaceport. The missile will be produced at Krasmash, a machine-building plant in Krasnoyarsk.
Sarmat Missiles Specifications
| Mass | 208.1 tons |
|---|---|
| Length | 35.5 m |
| Diameter | 3.5 m |
| Engine | First stage: PDU-99 (RD-274 derived) |
| Warhead | 10–15 MIRVs (various type and yield, including HGVs; At the maximum reported throw-weight of up 10,000 kg, the missile could deliver a 50 Mt charge (the maximum theoretical yield-to-weight ratio is about 6 megatons of TNT per metric ton, and the maximum achieved ratio was apparently 5.3 megatons of TNT per metric ton in B/Mk-41). |
| Propellant | Liquid |
| Speed | Mach 20.7; 25,560 km/h (15,880 mph); 7.1 km/s (4.4 mi/s) |
| Operational range | ~18,000 kilometres (11,000 mi) |
| Guidance system | Inertial guidance, GLONASS, Astro-inertial |
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