politics
The missile meant to strike fear in Russia’s enemies fails once again
One of Vladimir Putin’s favorite sabres to rattle seems to have lost its edge.
TL;DR
- A Russian ICBM failed shortly after launch during a test, crashing near the Dombarovsky air base.
- The crashed missile is believed to be the RS-28 Sarmat, a heavy-duty ICBM designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads.
- The failure, evidenced by a fireball and crash site, suggests significant technical issues with the Sarmat program.
- The Sarmat is intended to replace Russia's aging R-36M2 ICBM fleet, which is becoming obsolete and relies on previously Ukrainian-maintained components.
- This incident casts doubt on the readiness of Russia's nuclear arsenal and delays the Sarmat's operational deployment.
- The failure occurs while Russia's military resources are focused on the war in Ukraine, potentially hindering nuclear modernization efforts.
- Analysts suggest the Sarmat program could face cancellation, with Russia potentially relying on its existing smaller ICBMs.