Putin Confirms Sarmat ICBM to Enter Combat Duty Soon, World’s Most Powerful Nuclear Weapon Nears Deployment

Russia has confirmed that its RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)—widely regarded as the most powerful nuclear missile ever built—is on the verge of entering combat duty. The announcement marks another milestone in Moscow’s strategic modernization program, coming just days after President Vladimir Putin disclosed successful tests of the nuclear-powered Poseidon underwater drone and the Burevestnik cruise missile. Together, these developments underscore Russia’s growing emphasis on next-generation nuclear deterrence.

A Weapon Designed to Redefine Strategic Balance

The Sarmat, developed by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau under Russia’s state-owned Roscosmos, is billed as the successor to the aging R-36M2 Voevoda (NATO reporting name: SS-18 “Satan”). Weighing approximately 208 tons and standing over 35 meters tall, Sarmat is designed to carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs)—up to 10 heavy or 15 lighter nuclear warheads.

With a total yield of around 7.5 megatons, one Sarmat missile possesses the destructive power to obliterate an area the size of France or Texas. Its range is estimated at over 18,000 kilometers, enabling it to strike any location on Earth, including via unconventional trajectories such as over the South Pole—bypassing traditional U.S. missile defense systems located in the northern hemisphere.

Propulsion and Design Features

The Sarmat uses a three-stage liquid-fueled propulsion system, reportedly powered by the RD-274 engine in its first stage—a derivative of the Soviet-era RD-264 engine but extensively modernized for higher thrust and efficiency. These engines are entirely Russian-made, reflecting Moscow’s push for self-reliance in strategic weapons production following Western sanctions.

Unlike solid-fueled Western ICBMs such as the U.S. Minuteman III, Sarmat’s liquid-fuel system allows it to carry heavier payloads and execute complex flight paths, including fractional orbital bombardment trajectories. It also supports the deployment of advanced decoys and maneuverable warheads to penetrate anti-ballistic missile (ABM) shields.

Development Timeline

The Sarmat program began in 2011, when Russia initiated work on a new heavy ICBM to replace the Voevoda. The missile underwent extensive ground testing through the mid-2010s, with the first silo ejection test conducted in December 2017 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

• 2020–2021: Static and flight readiness trials were completed.

• April 2022: The first full-scale flight test was successfully conducted, during which the missile’s warhead section hit targets at the Kura test range in Kamchatka.

• 2023–2024: Serial production began at the Krasmash plant in Krasnoyarsk, with multiple silos being prepared for deployment under Russia’s Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN).

• Late 2025: The missile is now reportedly completing its final operational tests and will soon enter full combat service.

Strategic Role and Implications

The Sarmat is a cornerstone of Russia’s nuclear triad modernization, complementing systems like the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo and the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle. It is expected to serve within the 62nd Red Banner Missile Division based in Uzhur, Siberia—one of the key strategic bases for Russia’s nuclear deterrent.

Each Sarmat silo will be hardened to withstand a direct nuclear strike, and the missile’s advanced guidance system reportedly features new algorithms to improve accuracy and survivability under electronic warfare conditions. Moreover, Sarmat can carry Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, giving it a dual deterrent capability: overwhelming destructive yield and near-impossible intercept probability.

A Message to the West

The timing of this announcement—following tests of the Poseidon and Burevestnik—appears calculated to signal Russia’s readiness to maintain strategic parity amid heightened global tensions. The deployment of Sarmat will effectively replace the Cold War–era Satan missile, ensuring that Russia retains what it calls a “guaranteed retaliatory capability” against any potential nuclear threat.

In the words of President Putin, the Sarmat “has no analogues in the world.” With its entry into service imminent, the missile is not just a symbol of deterrence—it represents Moscow’s reassertion of technological dominance in the field of nuclear arms, even as arms control frameworks between Russia and the West continue to erode.