On April 20, Russia successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) called Sarmat as part of state trials. Russian President Vladimir Putin watched the test launch from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region from the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, via video link. “I congratulate you on the successful launch of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. This is an important event in the development of the Russian army. This missile has the highest tactical and technical characteristics and is able to overcome all modern means of anti-missile defense. It has no analogues in the world and will not be for a long time. This is truly a unique weapon and will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces. It will ensure Russia’s security against external threats, and this weapon will make those who try to threaten us with the heat of aggressive rhetoric think once again,” said Vladimir Putin during the video conference.
It is stated that the Sarmat ballistic missile will replace the Russian Voyevoda ballistic missile developed in 1988, while it is estimated that the Sarmat ballistic missile can exceed the north and south pole targets and has a range of 11 to 18 thousand kilometers.