Russia prepares to test 'monster' missile with the longest range in the world

According to the Russian newspaper Izvestia, the country has begun preparing to test the latest generation of heavy Sarmat ballistic missile system launched from an underground silo.

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces have begun preparations for large-scale test-firing of the world's longest-range Sarmat missile, the newspaper quoted former Chief of Staff of the Strategic Missile Forces Colonel Viktor Esin as saying.

The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will enter service with the Russian military in 2018 and replace the RS-20 Voyevoda series of ballistic missiles, the Izvestia newspaper reported.

Russian underground missile silo.

The Sarmat is a modern solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. It is designed to replace the Soviet-era R-36M Voevoda missile, nicknamed “Satan” by NATO, and is launched from an underground silo as part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent.

According to Zvezda, the Sarmat missile will not only become the successor of the R-36M, but to some extent it will determine Russia's nuclear deterrent.

Russian television added that Sarmat is capable of attacking a large area of ​​territory the size of Texas or France and its super-fast speed will penetrate all current missile defense systems.

Russian Sarmat missile.

The missile will be equipped with a complex re-entry vehicle housing dozens of heavy-weight reentry vehicles (MIRVed), each of which is highly maneuverable.

The Sarmat warhead has a modern anti-missile interception system that can penetrate the US ABM "steel dome".

The Sarmat, with a range of no less than 5,500km, is part of the Russian government's plan to modernize its nuclear forces by 2020./.

According to CAND