Russia: Sarmat ballistic missile test failed, according to experts citing photo analysis

The test launch of a Russian RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile likely failed earlier this month, according to experts and satellite images from the launch site.

In photos captured by the Maxar satellite on September 21, a crater about 60 meters wide can be seen at the launch silo in the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, northern Russia, with damage in the surrounding area, which was not visible in earlier images taken this month.

Russia Testing of the new RS-28 Sarmat (Satan II) Nuclear ICBM reportedly failed yet again in Archangelsk, with the giant missile apparently exploding in the silo at launch, leaving a massive crater. pic.twitter.com/HcogAfV9ad

— Eliyahu Cohen (@LetJewsLive) September 23, 2024

From the images, it is unclear whether the failure occurred during the launch of the Sarmat, a liquid-fueled missile, or if an accident happened during its fueling.

“All indications point to a failed test. There is a large hole in the ground,” says Pavel Podvig, an analyst based in Geneva who leads the Russian Forces Project at the Center for Arms Control Studies. “There was a significant incident involving the missile and the silo.”

The Russian Ministry of Defense did not respond to a request for comment and has made no recent announcements about planned Sarmat tests.

The RS-28 Sarmat missile, also known as Satan II, is 35 meters long, has a range of 18,000 kilometers, weighs over 208 tons at launch, and can carry up to 16 independent nuclear warheads capable of striking different targets, as well as several Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, according to Russian media.

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