The RS-28 Sarmat is a liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile currently under development by Russia.

RS-28 Sarmat at a Glance

Originated from: Russia

Possessed by: Russia

Class: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)

Alternate name: SS-X-30 Satan II

Basing: Silo-based

Length: 35.3 m

Diameter: 3.0 m

Launch weight: 208,100 kg

Payload: 10,000 kg or MIRV or glide vehicles

Warhead: Nuclear, MIRV or glide vehicles

Propulsion: Three-stage, liquid-fueled

Range: 10,000-18,000 km

Status: In development

In service: 2021 (est.)

Sarmat Development

Designed to replace Russia’s aging SS-18 Satan ICBM, the RS-28 Sarmat began development some time in the 2000s.¹ After awarding production contracts to Makeyev Design Bureau and NPOMash in early 2011, Russia concluded research and development of the Sarmat ICBM on July 21, 2011.² Russia completed its first prototype of the missile in late 2015.³ In December 2017, Russia conducted its first silo ejection test of the Sarmat, which reportedly revealed technical deficiencies with the launch system.⁴ Two subsequent silo ejection tests—on March and May 2018—were apparently successful.⁵ The RS-28 was initially scheduled to enter service in 2018 with 50 missiles on order. After several technical delays, the Sarmat missile is planned to enter service in 2021.⁶

Specifications

The Sarmat is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile with a range of 18,000 km and a launch weight of 208.1 metric tons.⁷ The missile is 35.3 meters long and 3 meters in diameter.⁸ Designated a “heavy” ICBM, the Sarmat can carry a 10 ton payload and can load a wide variety of warhead options.⁹ According to Russian media, Sarmat can reportedly load up to 10 large warheads, 16 smaller ones, a combination of warheads and countermeasures, or hypersonic boost-glide vehicles.¹⁰¹¹

Footnotes

“Key facts about Russia’s advanced Sarmat ICBM system,” TASS, March 1, 2018, https://tass.com/defense/992360
Ibid.; “‘Sarmat’ Development Work,” Makeyev Design Bureau, 2016. Archived, https://web.archive.org/web/20170327181150/http://makeyev.ru/activities/missile-systems/Sarmat/; Pavel Podvig, “New ICBM contract reportedly went to Makeyev Design Bureau,” Russian strategic nuclear forces, May 14, 2011. http://russianforces.org/blog/2011/05/new_icbm_contract_reportedly_w.shtml
Ibid.
Franz-Stefan Gady, “Russia’s Strategic Rocket Force Tests Ejection of Deadly Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile,” The Diplomat, March 30, 2018, https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/russias-strategic-rocket-force-tests-ejection-of-deadly-sarmat-intercontinental-ballistic-missile/.
Franz-Stefan Gady, “First Serial-Produced RS-28 Sarmat ICBMs to Enter Service in Russia in 2021, The Diplomat, February 3, 2020, https://thediplomat.com/2020/02/first-serial-produced-rs-28-sarmat-icbms-to-enter-service-in-russia-in-2021/.
“First serial-produced Sarmat ICBMs to assume combat duty in Russia in 2021” TASS, February 3, 2020, https://tass.com/defense/1115697.
Ibid.
“The characteristics of the Sarmat ballistic missile became known,” RIA Novosti, June 27, 2019, https://ria.ru/20190627/1555986458.html.
Alexei Krivoruchko, “Way into the new decade,” Radio-Electronic Technology, No. 1 (2020), p. 7, http://hi-tech.media/122019.html.
“First Image of RS-28 Sarmat, Russia’s Largest Ever ICBM, Unveiled,” Sputnik, October 24, 2016, https://sputniknews.com/military/201610241046655887-sarmat-image-declassified/.
Nuclear Threat Initiative, “Russia Reportedly Approves Production of New Liquid-Fueled ICBM,” October 22, 2016, http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/russia-reportedly-approves-production-new-liquid-fueled-icbm/.”