Putin hails Russia’s test launch of ‘most powerful missile in the world’

Al Jazeera:

Russia has test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile, with President Vladimir Putin describing the nuclear-capable Sarmat weapon as the world’s “most powerful” missile.

State television broadcast footage of Sergei Karakayev, commander of Russia’s strategic missile forces, reporting to Putin on what Moscow described as a successful launch on Tuesday.

Putin said that the Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year.

“This is the most powerful missile in the world,” he said in televised remarks, adding that its warhead yield was more than four times greater than any Western equivalent.

Putin said the Sarmat was capable of suborbital flight, giving it a range exceeding 35,000km (21,750 miles), and claimed it could “penetrate all existing and future anti-missile defence systems”.

The test comes after years of setbacks.

Development of the Sarmat began in 2011, and before Tuesday, the missile had only one known successful test and reportedly suffered a massive explosion during an abortive test in 2024.

Designated “Satan II” in the West, the Sarmat is meant to replace about 40 Soviet-built Voyevoda missiles. Putin said on Tuesday that the Sarmat is as powerful as the Voyevoda but with higher precision.