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Published: August 5, 2025 11:10 AM IST 
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Missile that can “strike anywhere on earth”
Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat missile, built by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau, is meant to replace an old Soviet missile called the R-36M, also known as SS-18 ‘Satan’. The Sarmat is a big step forward in missile technology. Its first successful test was done in 2022, after years of delays and secrecy.
What makes this missile especially dangerous is its very long range, about 18,000 kilometers. That means it can strike almost any place in the world. It can also take non-traditional flight paths, such as going over the North or South Pole, which helps it avoid radar systems and missile defence shields, making it harder to detect or stop.
The missile weighs 208 tonnes and measures 35 meters long. It can carry 10 to 15 nuclear warheads using a special system called MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle). Some versions are also believed to carry Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, which can fly at speeds over Mach 20 (20 times the speed of sound) and change direction in flight which makes them extremely hard to intercept.
Why Russia is now highlighting the Sarmat missile
Russia’s sudden focus on the RS-28 Sarmat missile doesn’t seem to be random. Reports say that the United States has moved two nuclear submarines close to Russian waters, something Russia sees as a serious threat.
But the Sarmat isn’t just about showing off power, it’s also a strong warning. When compared to other missiles like the US Minuteman III (range: 13,000 km) or China’s DF-41 (range: 12,000–15,000 km), the Sarmat has more range and can carry a heavier load.
The missile’s ability to carry hypersonic glide vehicles like the Avangard makes things even harder for NATO. These glide vehicles can change direction while flying and are very fast, making it hard for systems like the US GMD or THAAD to stop them.
Weaknesses of the RS-28 Sarmat:
- Uses liquid fuel, which means it takes more time to get ready for launch compared to solid-fuel missiles like the US Minuteman III
- Some technical issues remain, for example, there was an explosion during testing in 2024
- In the future, space-based defences and systems like the US SBIRS (Space-Based Infrared System) may be able to detect and respond to launches more quickly.
