Russia raises global tension even further: reveals that its new intercontinental missile may carry hypersonic weapons

The new Sarmat missile is designed to carry several hypersonic Avangard aircraft, General Sergei Karakayev, commander of the Russian Armed Forces Missile Unit, told Russian television, further elevating the already tense world situation since Putin launched his offensive in Europe. .

The Russian Ministry of Defense has asserted that a first test with the Sarmat launched from the north of the country in Plesetsk was successful, and that its warheads hit the shooting range in Kura, on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

The test occurs at times of severe tensions between Russia and the West due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and draws attention to the country's nuclear capacity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the development of the Sarmat, assuring that no other country has anything like it and that the missile is capable of overcoming any air defense. “This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat readiness of our armed forces, defend Russia from any external threat and make those who threaten our country, amid aggressive rhetoric, think twice,” Purtin threatened last Wednesday.

“The new complex has the highest tactical and technical characteristics and is capable of surpassing all modern means of missile defense. It has no analogues in the world and will not have them for a long time,” said the Russian. “This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces, reliably ensure Russia's security against external threats, and give thought twice to those who, in the midst of frantically aggressive rhetoric, are trying to threaten our country.”

The Sarmat is a new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile that Russia is expected to deploy with 10 or more warheads in each missile, according to the US Congressional Investigation Service.

It has been in development for years, so its test launch is not a surprise to the West, but it comes at a time of extreme geopolitical tension due to Russia's war in Ukraine.

The missile, which was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, reached its destination 6,000 kilometers away at the Kurá polygon on the Kamchatka Peninsula, washed by the Pacific Ocean.

After the trial, the Pentagon said that Russia's test is not considered a threat to the United States and its allies.

Moscow “duly notified” Washington of the test under nuclear treaty obligations and “it was no surprise,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

The Pentagon “has not considered the test to be a threat to the United States or its allies,” he told reporters.

This weapon is part of a series of other missiles presented in 2018 as “invisible” by Vladimir Putin. Among them the Kinjal and Avangard hypersonic missiles.

In March, Moscow claimed to have used Kinjal for the first time against targets in Ukraine.

The Sarmat, weighing more than 200 tons, theoretically achieves better results than its predecessor, the 11,000 km range Voevoda missile.

In 2019, Putin said the Sarmat had “virtually no range limits” and was able to “target targets across the north and south poles.”

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