RS-28 Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile drop tests shift to end 2016 52007163

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Defence & Security News - Russia
 
RS-28 Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile drop tests shift to end 2016
The drop tests of the newest RS-28 Sarmat (NATO reporting name: SS-X-30) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) have been shifted to end-2016 due to the drawbacks pertaining to the fire trials of the missile`s first stage engine, according to a source in Russian defense industry. 
     
RS-28 Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile drop tests shift to end 2016
The R-36M2 Voyevoda (photographed during exercises) will be replaced by the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM
     
"Several technical problems were revealed during the fire trials of the Sarmat`s first stage engine. The aforementioned drawbacks do not allow completing the trials successfully," the source said.

According to him, the lagging behind the Sarmat program`s original schedule has reached several months. "Hence, the drop tests of the missile are to be conducted in November-December 2016. The industry will start the development flight tests of Sarmat no earlier than end-Q1/2017," the source pointed out. The drop tests should confirm the performance of the Sarmat`s structure, according to him.

The silo at the Plesetsk range that will accommodate the Sarmat`s drop tests has been built, the source said. "The silo at the Plesetsk range that was being used during the trials of the R-36M2 Voyevoda (NATO reporting name: SS-18 Mod.5/Mod.6) ICBM has been upgraded and prepared (for the Sarmat`s drop tests)," he pointed out.

TASS has not obtained the official confirmation of the information yet.

Earlier, the Commander of Russia`s Strategic Missile Forces (Russian acronym: RVSN, Raketnye Voyska Strategicheskogo Naznacheniya), Colonel General Sergey Karakaev said that the trials of the Sarmat ICBM would be conducted at the Plesetsk range.

The RS-28 Sarmat ICBMs will replace the R-36M2 Voyevoda intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Sarmat`s payload is supposed to be 1.25 t higher than the Voyevoda`s one (10 t and 8.75 t, respectively). Russia`s Ministry of Defense is planning to bring the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM into service in late 2018.
     
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