The new intercontinental ballistic missile "Sarmat" will be in service with the Russian strategic forces until the 2070s.

This was stated by Deputy Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces Sergey Poroskun in the program “Military Acceptance” on the Zvezda TV channel.

“This is a promising missile system that will be on combat duty for the next 50 years.

Such confidence is given, first of all, by the inherent tactical and technical characteristics.

This rocket was made only on Russian-made components, great reliability is inherent in this missile system.

This gives reason to think so, ”said the Russian military leader.

According to Sergei Poroskun, infrastructure is currently being prepared, and personnel are being formed from a sergeant to a division commander to put the Sarmat missile system on combat duty ... in the Uzhur missile formation this year. 

Over the next 50 years, the Sarmat will become the most powerful missile in Russia's nuclear shield thanks to the advanced technological solutions embedded in it, the Deputy Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces emphasized.

In turn, the creator of the Sarmat rocket, the general designer of the State Missile Center named after M.

Makeev Vladimir Degtyar said that due to the high speed at launch, the missile can avoid detection by missile defense systems.

Such speed characteristics are achieved through the use of a unique liquid-fuel engine, which distinguishes the Sarmat from solid-propellant American ballistic missiles, Degtyar explained.

“There is no such “Sarmat” in the USA.

They are focused mainly on solid fuel topics.

And the bottom line is that we simply have the best engines that run on liquid fuel and which still cannot be mastered in the production of the United States, ”said the designer on the air of Zvezda.

Historic launch

Recall that the first launch of the Sarmat rocket took place on April 20 at the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, congratulating the military on the successful launch, said that this was "a big, significant event in the development of promising weapons systems for the Russian army."

“There are no analogues to him in the world and will not be for a long time.

This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces, reliably ensure the security of Russia from external threats and make those who, in the heat of frenzied aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country, think.

  • Launch of the stationary intercontinental ballistic missile "Sarmat" from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region

  • RIA News

  • © Ministry of Defense of Russia

The RS-28 Sarmat missile was developed at the V.P.

Makeev to replace the Soviet intercontinental missile R-36M2 "Voevoda".

The exact technical characteristics of the rocket were not made public, however, from the data published by the media and the statements of officials it follows that the total mass of the product is about 200 tons. any point in the world along a ballistic trajectory through the North or South Poles of the planet.

Shortly after the first launch of the Sarmat, the commander of the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) of the Russian Federation, Sergei Karakaev, announced that the missile could be equipped, among other things, with several Avangard hypersonic warheads.

Earlier, Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov called the Sarmat one of the Russian weapons that causes serious displeasure in Washington and which the American side would like to limit as part of a potential arms control agreement.

They don't like the Poseidon very much, they don't like the Sarmat very much, and in all the meetings that we have with representatives of academia, we are told all the time that in the future arms control agreement these Poseidons should be banned, of course on the other hand, it is necessary to limit the use of Sarmats and so on, ”said the diplomat on the air of the Solovyov LIVE program.

Shelf life

According to experts, the long service life of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) is a common practice.

However, with the advent of Sarmat, Russia is updating this period, while other countries continue to use ICBMs, the service life of which is already at the limit.

For example, the United States continues to use the Minuteman III missiles, which entered service in 1970, as the ground component of its nuclear triad.

But last April, the head of the US Strategic Command, Admiral Charles Richard, told a Senate hearing that US strategic forces could not continue to use these missiles to deter Russia and China.

  • US Minuteman III ballistic missile launch

  • AP

  • © Brittany EN Murphy / US Army Space and Missile Defense Command

“You can't extend the lifespan of anything indefinitely, and I can't rely on what's left of the Cold War to provide deterrence throughout the vast future.

This is the fundamental reason, ”Richard answered the question of one of the senators why the United States needs a new ICBM.

The admiral added: “For 2030-level threats, I will have to counter the weapons system from the 1970s.”

According to him, the technology used in Minuteman III is hopelessly outdated.

“We are left with two specific types of switches that are needed for launch control centers.

No one knows how to make them anymore, they are outdated.

It's not worth the company's investment in it,” said Charles Richard.

It is worth noting that at the beginning of this year, the RAND Corporation (acting as an American strategic research center) released a report in which it reported on the dissatisfaction of American politicians and experts with the GBSD (Ground-Based Strategic Deterrence) program, under which the Pentagon should receive a new ICBM.

“Several prominent NGOs have expressed their disappointment at the president's first budget request for nuclear upgrades, and they continue to urge the administration to adjust the objectives and pace of the GBSD program, or shelve it altogether.

In addition, a number of congressmen have introduced a bill to suspend or terminate the GBSD program.

Others have signaled that they will support the postponement or reduction of funding for the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile, ”the RAND report noted.

In an interview with RT, military expert Alexander Khrolenko emphasized that the appearance of the Sarmat provides Russia not with parity, but with an advantage in the ground component of the nuclear triad for the next 50 years.

At the same time, the Minuteman missiles operated by the United States are inferior not only to the Sarmat, but also to its Soviet predecessors, the expert added.

“We had an advantage before, even with old missiles.

They surpassed the Minuteman lll in all respects, and even more so the new missiles.

This is another good leap forward.

Therefore, it is guaranteed that in the next 50 years no one will catch up with us in the field of strategic weapons, ”said the interlocutor of RT.

"Sarmat" will not be in the position of Minuteman missiles and will not remain in service in 50 years due to the lack of alternatives, like American missiles, due to its technological superiority, Alexander Khrolenko believes.

“American missiles, inferior in many respects, have been in service with some upgrades since the 1960s, which is quite a long time for missiles of this generation.

In turn, the reserve of technological superiority allows the Sarmat to easily serve 50 years, ”said the military expert.

By announcing the long service life of new ICBMs, Russia signals its confidence that their basic technologies will remain relevant in the future, Vasily Kashin, a military expert and senior researcher at the Higher School of Economics, explained in an interview with RT.

“Combat equipment can change, the control system can be improved, but the foundation itself will not change dramatically and will remain relevant for a very long time,” the analyst emphasized.

In turn, the retention of Minuteman III missiles in US service suggests that the ground component of the nuclear triad is still their weak point, Vasily Kashin believes.

“The land component of Russia has always been much more developed than that of the United States.

Their main stake has always been placed on the naval component of strategic nuclear forces, so the United States has only one type of intercontinental ballistic missiles - they have not produced new ones for a long time.

Going forward, it can be expected that, as with the Minuteman III, they will also have only one type of land-based ICBM based on the advanced missile they are developing.

But they will be different for us, because Russia has a completely different strategy in this area, ”summed up Kashin.