Russia has officially deployed its RS-28 Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), commonly known as "Satan II," on combat duty, according to an announcement made by Russian space agency chief Yury Borisov on September 2, 2023. The exact date and location of the deployment have not been disclosed.The RS-28 Sarmat missile, dubbed "Satan II" due to its intended replacement of the Soviet-era Voevoda missiles (NATO designation SS-18 "Satan"), is designed for delivering nuclear strikes against targets in the United States or Europe from thousands of kilometers away.Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously emphasized the combat capabilities of this next-generation ICBM, suggesting that it would make Russia's adversaries "think twice" about their actions.According to the state-run news agency TASS, the RS-28 Sarmat is estimated to be capable of carrying a Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRVed) warhead weighing up to 10 tonnes to any location worldwide, including over the North and South Poles. The Sarmat strategic system is now on combat alert.Key features of the RS-28 Sarmat include its nuclear capability, three-stage design, a range of 18,000 kilometers, and a launch weight of 208.1 metric tons. It can carry up to 10 heavy warheads or 15 light warheads. Additionally, it can carry up to 24 Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles that have the ability to maneuver during flight, making them challenging to intercept.President Putin has emphasized that this new missile system possesses superior tactical and technical characteristics and can overcome modern anti-missile defense systems. He noted that it has no global counterparts and is expected to remain unmatched for an extended period.The RS-28 Sarmat missile was test-launched on April 20, 2022, shortly after the Russia-Ukraine war began, signaling Russia's commitment to enhancing its nuclear deterrence capabilities.
