New video about the SARMAT RS-28 missile ICBM released by Russian MoD
The Russian Ministry of defense has released new video showing the new SARMAT RS-28 ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) carried on a trailer towed by an 8x8 military truck. The RS-28 Sarmat (NATO reporting name SS-X-30) is a Russian liquid-fueled, MIRV-equipped, superheavy thermonuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missile, in development by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau since 2009.
New Russian-made SARMAT RS-28 ICBM InterContinental Ballistic Missile. (Picture source Russian MoD)
Sarmat design began in 2009. It had to be completed by late 2016, but was delayed because of unprepared launch pad in Plesetsk and technical re-equipment problems at the main producer (Krasnoyarsk machine-building works), as well as problems with the first missile samples exposed by durability trials.
Sarmat is to replace the merited heavy Voevoda RS-20V. One such ICBM can carry up to 14 individually targeted warheads with a set of means to overcome missile defense. Voevoda has been operational since 1988 and is still considered to be the most perfect heavy liquid-fuel ICBM in the world. However they are to be gradually decommissioned from 2022 and replaced by modern Sarmat.
Sarmat flight tests are expected in late 2018 and the serial production is to begin in 2020 to replace Voevoda. No detailed Sarmat characteristics are publicly available and will hardly be disclosed in the near future. But the ICBM is said to become one of the most perfect missiles.
Firstly, Sarmat will carry a major payload - at least 4.5 tons or close to 5 tons. Powerful main engines will make it quickly pass the boost phase to avoid detection, identification and destruction by adversary missile defense.
Secondly, RS-28 can deliver the payload by various trajectories - from ordinary (the shortest) to global (e.g. via the South Pole). Sarmat can fly along ballistic and flat trajectories, which are ideal for supersonic guided re-entry vehicles. The Machine-Building Amalgamation is designing the 4202 vehicle and Sarmat is likely to carry several of them.
Thirdly, the ICBM engine power allows adding modern means to break through missile defense - from dummy targets to various active and passive jamming devices.
The engagement zone of Sarmat warheads will exceed the parameters of existing ICBM and will thus destroy targets located dozens and even hundreds of kilometers from each other with one salvo.
Thus, Sarmat will give new combat capabilities to the Strategic Missile Forces. They will be able to attack targets from unexpected directions with various warheads, including hypersonic and non-nuclear. The increased ability to break through missile defense will devaluate the significance of the available and future shields of the potential adversaries.
