The commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel General Sergei Karakaev, in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, said that the troops would soon have the latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) RS-28 Sarmat. In the near future, the 62nd missile Uzhursky Red Banner Division (Krasnoyarsk Territory) will be rearmament at this complex.
“At present, industrial enterprises continue their readiness for state flight tests (Sarmat. - RT ). Already today, in order to ensure the rearmament of the first compound, work has been launched on this complex to prepare the lead missile regiment for rearmament, ”Karakaev said.
In connection with the upcoming rearmament of units at Sarmat, the capacities of the Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant (Krasmash, part of Roskosmos), which will mass-produce the latest missiles, are being modernized, said Karakaev. At the end of last year, the Strategic Missile Forces commander announced that the entry of the RS-28 into the regiments of the Uzhur missile division was planned for 2021.
Sarmat is a fifth-generation 200-ton liquid heavy ICBM. The head developer of the complex is JSC “GRTS Makeeva” (Miass, Chelyabinsk Region). According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, a missile is capable of overcoming any missile defense system.
"Application in any conditions"
According to the Ministry of Defense, "Sarmat" should replace in the Strategic Missile Forces mine-based (stationary) R-36M2 Voyevoda-based systems (Satan - according to NATO classification). The development of the complex was completed in the late 1980s within the walls of the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau (Dnepropetrovsk).
"Voivode" began to enter service at the end of Soviet statehood. From the open data it follows that under R-36M2 in Russia it was possible to equip 58 mines. Most likely, it is precisely this number of Sarmatians that the Strategic Missile Forces will receive, taking into account the fact that it is not planned to build new launchers, ”said Dmitry Kornev, founder of the Military Russia portal, in an interview with RT.
- Preparations for the launch of the Voivode rocket
- RIA News
- © Vladimir Fedorenko
Similar figures were cited by RT corresponding member of the Academy of Military Sciences Sergey Sudakov. He said that Russia does not make sense to cross the bar of 60 RS-28 units, based on current military-political and financial considerations.
“To ensure strategic deterrence, even 20-30 Sarmatians will be enough. Now in the Strategic Missile Forces there are at least 50 “Voivods”. It is logical to assume that approximately the same number of RS-28s will be released. This is more than enough, ”Sudakov emphasized.
In July, citing American intelligence sources, CNBC reported that less than 60 RS-28s would be delivered to the Russian Defense Ministry. The latest missile system will supposedly be ready for combat use by 2020. Dmitry Kornev called this deadline unrealistic.
“In my opinion, the foreign media and the Russian military are in a hurry. Sarmat is a very complex complex. In addition, flight tests of ICBMs have not yet begun, and the timing of creation may move slightly. There is nothing critical about this. Now, as I understand it, preparations are underway. In particular, for the placement of Sarmat in mine installations, it is necessary to replace equipment. This is probably being done now, ”said Kornev.
According to the plans of Roskomos, the final stage of the Sarmat trials will start at the end of 2020. Last year, the ICBM missile launch cycle at the Plesetsk State Cosmodrome (Arkhangelsk Region) was successfully completed. According to official information, in 2019, rocket fire tests took place (verification of engine performance).
“Russian scientists have created a unique liquid propulsion system and a new fuel mixture for Sarmat. As you know, the operation of liquid rocket engines is fraught with many difficulties. However, at Sarmat, our scientists managed to make this process safer by placing liquid fuel in a special closed capsule, ”Sudakov noted.
Sarmat will significantly surpass the predecessor Voivode in combat capabilities. As stated earlier by the President of the Russian Federation, the RS-28 will be "unprecedented in power." The latest ICBM will be able to hit targets from any direction, including from the South Pole, thanks to its almost unlimited range. In addition, the rocket has a short booster section, which makes it difficult to intercept at the active stage of flight.
- Installation of the Avangard complex at ICBMs
- © Ministry of Defense of Russia
“The range of the new heavy missile, the number and power of warheads is greater than the Voivode’s.” Sarmat will be equipped with a wide range of high-power nuclear warheads, including hypersonic ones, and the most advanced anti-missile defense systems. The high security characteristics of launchers and great energy capabilities will ensure the use of this complex in any environment, ”Putin said in a message to the Federal Assembly on March 1 last year.
According to Dmitry Korneva, the RS-28 flight range exceeds 20 thousand km (Voevoda’s 11 thousand km), the missile’s mass (payload) is about 10 tons (against 8.8 tons for the R-36M2). According to the Ministry of Defense, "Sarmat" will be able to carry up to 20 warheads of small, medium, high power classes. Also on the "Sarmat" you can install three planning hypersonic winged block "Vanguard".
“The concept of ICBM payload includes the stage of breeding warheads, warheads and the so-called traps - false targets, which were means to overcome missile defense. True, you need to understand that 10 tons is the maximum value, relevant at a distance of about 10-12 thousand km. When launched, for example, through the South Pole, it will be smaller, ”Kornev explained.
According to the expert, Sarmat will become the most formidable ICBM in the Russian nuclear triad. The power of only one block (300-500 kilotons) of the middle class is enough to destroy a large ground target (with a deviation of not more than 150 m). At the same time, Sarmat will be able to carry up to 20 such blocks, Kornev believes.
Sarmat, like Voevoda, is designed to guarantee the defeat of the critical well-fortified enemy infrastructure. The R-36M2 could carry 14 medium warheads, although in reality it carried 10 due to contractual restrictions. It can be assumed that up to two dozen blocks can be installed on the RS-28. I think this will be done if the United States refuses to extend START III, ”says Kornev.
“Must Affect US Position”
The creation of Sarmat was Russia's response to the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the 1972 ABM Treaty. From the point of view of Moscow, this document was “the cornerstone of the international security system”. Also, when planning missions of the Strategic Missile Forces, Russia takes into account the breakdown of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate and Shorter Range Missiles (INF Treaty).
At present, the situation around the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START III) is on the agenda of the Russian Federation and the United States. The document expires in February 2021. Moscow is ready to extend the agreement, but Washington does not have a clear position on this issue.
According to Dmitry Kornev, the appearance in the arsenal of the Russian Federation "Sarmat", equipped with Avangard combat units, is an important factor in maintaining strategic stability in the world. According to him, the rearmament on the RS-28 is able to sober up the military-political leadership of the United States, which is consistently breaking off security agreements.
“Of course, it is difficult to predict how the situation will develop, but the rearmament of the Strategic Missile Forces to Sarmat and Vanguard, as it seems to me, should affect the US position on START III. Existing information on these types of weapons allows us to conclude that they are invulnerable to any missile defense systems. The Americans cannot ignore this circumstance, ”concluded Kornev.