RS-28 Sarmat Missile

Full Specifications

RS-28 Sarmat Missile: Russia’s Heavy ICBM

The RS-28 Sarmat is a Russian silo based, liquid fueled intercontinental ballistic missile designed to replace the Soviet era R-36M2 Voevoda, known by NATO as the SS-18 Satan. The missile is intended for strategic nuclear deterrence and is designed to deliver multiple reentry vehicles or other advanced payloads over intercontinental distances. Open source assessments list a reported range of roughly 10,000 to 18,000 kilometers and a launch weight of about 208 metric tons.

Sarmat is a three stage missile and has been associated with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, penetration aids and the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle. Its heavy payload capacity is one of its defining characteristics. However, exact warhead configurations and operational capabilities remain classified or disputed in open sources.

Manufacturer

The RS-28 Sarmat was developed under the Makeyev State Rocket Design Bureau, with production associated with the Krasnoyarsk Machine Building Plant, or Krasmash, in Russia. Development began in the 2000s, with major contracts awarded in 2011.

Speed and Range

Sarmat is a ballistic missile whose flight profile involves extremely high speeds during atmospheric reentry. Some technical assessments have reported speeds above Mach 20, although this should not be interpreted as a constant flight speed. Open source estimates place its maximum range between approximately 10,000 and 18,000 km, depending on the source and assumed payload.

Cost/Price

Russia has not publicly released a reliable unit price for the RS-28 Sarmat. Because it is a strategic nuclear weapon system, development, production, infrastructure and support costs are difficult to separate from the missile itself. Any specific retail style price should therefore be treated as speculative. The system remains primarily relevant to Russia’s strategic nuclear forces rather than commercial defense procurement.