Russia's 'unstoppable' missile falters amid technical failures
The Russian RS-28 Sarmat missile, promoted as unbeatable, is facing severe technical issues. According to Defence Romania, its latest test resulted in an explosion in the silo. The service reports that the Russians are attempting to cover up failures related to the missile with the help of Orieshnik missiles.
The Russian RS-28 Sarmat ballistic missile, which was supposed to be unbeatable, is grappling with significant technical problems. According to Defence Romania, during a test in September 2024, the missile exploded in the launch silo at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, causing considerable infrastructure damage. This incident, despite Russian attempts to conceal it, was confirmed by satellite images.
Problems with new technology
The Sarmat was intended to replace the older R-36M (Voevoda) missiles, which have been in use since the 1970s. However, problems with the project may affect further testing and system implementation. This, in turn, forces Russia to continue using older missiles, the stock of which is not unlimited, and to seek alternatives to the RS-28 Sarmat. It should be noted that intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are a critical component of Russia's deterrent strategy. Fabian Hoffmann of the Oslo Nuclear Project, quoted by Defence Romania, believes that due to the substantial investments and propaganda surrounding the Sarmat, cancelling the project is unlikely.
While Russia grapples with technical issues, other countries like China and the USA are introducing new technologies. China is already deploying DF-41 missiles, and the USA is modernising its nuclear forces under the Sentinel programme. This places Russia in a difficult position, forcing it to accelerate work on the RS-28 Sarmat missiles, especially since Vladimir Putin has repeatedly praised the RS-28 Sarmat as an unstoppable weapon, claiming that missile defence systems are ineffective against it.
Defence Romania points out that Russians' issues with the RS-28 Sarmat project might be obscured by Orieshnik missiles, which pose significant challenges for Ukrainians. The exact specifications of the new Russian missile remain unclear. According to some sources, Orieshnik was designed to carry nuclear warheads, can travel at speeds up to 12,348 kilometres per hour, and was most likely based on the RS-26 Rubezh missile. Interestingly, during attacks on Ukraine, the Russians did not use combat warheads. Instead, the Orieshnik contained so-called size-weight equivalents.
