Russia plans to deploy its newly tested Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which is capable of mounting nuclear strikes on the Uni...
Russia plans to deploy its newly tested Sarmat
intercontinental ballistic missile, which is capable of mounting nuclear
strikes on the United States, by the autumn.
Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Roscosmos space agency, said on
Saturday that the target deployment date for the new missile was an ambitious
one.
Russia reported its first test launch of the Sarmat on
Wednesday. Western military experts say more time is needed before the missile
can be deployed.
Rogozin said the launch of the Russian “super weapon” was an
historic event that would guarantee the security of Russia’s children and
grandchildren for the next 30-40 years.
The missiles will be deployed in the Krasnoyarsk region of
Siberia, about 3,000km (1,860 miles) east of Moscow, and placed at the same
sites and in the same silos as the Soviet-era Voyevoda missiles they are
replacing, something that would save “colossal resources and time”, Rogozin said.
This week’s test of the new intercontinental ballistic
missile marks a show of strength by Russia at a time of increased tensions with
the US and its allies over the continuing war in Ukraine.
The Sarmat’s range, which according to some experts is as
much as 35,000km (22,000 miles), allows it to fly the long way around to its
intended target, bypassing likely radar and missile defence systems, and
striking from an unexpected direction.
A Sarmat missile can carry up to 15 nuclear warheads.
The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile is test
launched by the Russian military at the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk
region, Russia [File: Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters]
Russia has also developed hypersonic missiles such as the
Kinzhal (Dagger), and is the first country to use them in combat in the
continuing Ukraine war.
Increasing risk
The risk of nuclear war has increased since Russian
President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24,
leading Western nations to impose severe economic sanctions on Russia.
After Wednesday’s test launch, Putin said the Sarmat could
overcome any missile defence system and would make those who threaten Russia
“think twice” about doing so.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s security
council, warned earlier this month that if Sweden and Finland joined NATO,
Russia would deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in its Kaliningrad
exclave, which is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
The Pentagon described the Sarmat test as “routine” and said
it was not considered a threat to US security.
In March, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
warned that the prospect of nuclear conflict “once unthinkable, is now back
within the realm of possibility”.
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