In a significant development that has drawn global attention, Russia has officially put its RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), popularly known as ‘Satan II,’ into combat duty. This powerful weapon, once described as invincible by President Vladimir Putin, has raised concerns and questions about its capabilities and implications on the international stage.
Yuri Borisov, the head of the state space agency Roscosmos, made the announcement, stating, “The Sarmat strategic missile system has entered active duty.” The RS-28 Sarmat is positioned to become the backbone of Russia’s silo-based strategic deterrent, possessing remarkable range and destructive power, making it one of the deadliest nuclear missiles globally, as reported by Sputnik News.
The RS-28 Sarmat, often referred to as ‘Satan II’ by Western analysts, is part of Russia’s next-generation missile arsenal unveiled by President Putin in 2018. This formidable weapon weighs over 200 tonnes and is designed to transport multiple warheads. It possesses the capability to elude anti-missile defense systems through a short initial boost phase, providing enemy surveillance systems with a narrow window to track its trajectory.
Earlier this year, Russian defense committee deputy chairman Aleksey Zhuravlyov invoked the RS-28 Sarmat, using it as a veiled threat when discussing Sweden and Finland’s aspirations to join NATO. He suggested that Moscow could potentially deploy ‘Satan II’ in response to such actions and against NATO member nations like the UK and the US.
The name ‘Satan II’ has captured the imagination of Western media and the public, despite NATO designating the missile as the ‘SS-X-29’ or ‘SS-X-30.’ The moniker ‘Satan II’ derives from the NATO reporting name ‘SS-18 Satan,’ which was used for the R-36M missile system that the RS-28 Sarmat is set to replace. This name choice evokes associations of malevolence and ominous power, enhancing its notoriety and prominence.
The deployment of ‘Satan II’ marks a critical development in the global arms race and strategic power dynamics. Its capabilities and potential consequences are topics of intense interest and concern, as the world watches closely how this formidable superweapon may influence geopolitics and international security in the coming years.
Sources By Agencies
