Putin says Russia will deploy new Sarmat nuclear missile this year
Russia's Sarmat Missile Deployment and Strategic Implications
Announcement of Sarmat Missile Deployment
MOSCOW, May 12 (Reuters) - Russia will deploy its new Sarmat strategic nuclear missile at the end of this year, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, describing it as "the most powerful in the world".
The planned deployment of the missile - designed to deliver nuclear warheads to strike targets thousands of miles away in the United States or Europe - follows years of setbacks and delays.
Technical Specifications and Capabilities
Warhead Yield and Range
Putin, in televised comments, said the yield of the warhead was more than four times greater than any Western equivalent and its range exceeded 35,000 km (21,750 miles).
Penetration of Defense Systems
"It has the ability to penetrate all existing and future anti-missile defence systems," he said.
Western Analysis and Previous Setbacks
Western Skepticism
Western security analysts say Putin has made exaggerated claims for the capabilities of some of Russia's new generation of nuclear weapons, part of a modernisation programme he first announced in 2018.
Testing Challenges
September 2024 Test Failure
Sarmat has seen failures in the past - one test in September 2024 left a deep crater at the launch silo, according to Western experts.
Recent Test and Military Statements
Successful Test-Launch
State TV showed Sergei Karakayev, commander of Russia's strategic missile forces, reporting to Putin on what he said was a successful Sarmat test-launch on Tuesday.
Strategic Impact
"The deployment of launchers equipped with the Sarmat missile system will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the ground-based strategic nuclear forces in terms of guaranteeing the destruction of targets and solving strategic deterrence problems," Karakayev said.
Context: Nuclear Arsenal and Ukraine War
Since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, Putin has repeatedly reminded the world of the size and power of Russia's nuclear arsenal in statements seen by the West as attempts to deter it from intervening too strongly on the side of Ukraine.
(Reporting by Ksenia Orlova and Max Rodionov, writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Gareth Jones)
