NUCLEAR WAR: Russia Activates Longest Range Nuclear Missile for Combat Duty
Jose Nino
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On September 1, 2023, the Russian government announced that it had placed its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) on “combat duty.”
Russian media news outlet RIA quoted the head of Roscosmos — Russia’s space agency — Yuri Borisov, noting: “the Sarmat strategic complex has been put on combat duty.”
The Sarmat ICBM can be nuclearly equipped and was previously praised by Russian President Vladimir Putin for being able to hit “any target on Earth.” Many arms experts believe it is the missile with the longest range in Russia’s missile arsenal. NATO authorities have nicknamed it the “Satan II” for its perceived power and its being allegedly the longest range missile on the planet.
The Sarmat falls under the category of “superheavy” class of missiles. It has a brief initial boost phase that gives it a better ability to evade all conventional anti-missile defense systems.
Due to its range, the Sarmat can strike targets thousands of miles away in the United States or Europe. This Sarmat missile has reportedly been developed since 2009 and was placed in a testing phase for several years. The Sarmat can allegedly reach a top speed of roughly 16,000 miles per hour.
In 2022, following a successful test, Putin said the following about the Sarmat: “The new complex has the highest tactical and technical characteristics and is capable of overcoming all modern means of anti-missile defense. It has no analogues in the world and won’t have for a long time to come.”
“This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces, reliably ensure Russia’s security from external threats and provide food for thought for those who, in the heat of frenzied aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country,” Putin continued.
The announcement of this missile activation comes at a time when Ukraine’s much-hyped counter-offensive has been floundering. As a result, several countries believe that now is the time to dial up intervention against Russia in Ukraine. This has likely prompted Russia to play the nuclear card.
Russia views the conflict in Ukraine as existential in nature. So it will threaten the Collective West with nuclear action if it escalates to the point that Russia’s core national security interests are threatened at an existential level.
Western policymakers should take note here. They could be potentially walking into an otherwise preventable geopolitical disaster if they don’t get their heads straight.
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