*Russia's Apex Predator: The RS-28 Sarmat (Satan II) Missile* *Introduction of the Sarmat Weapon* In April 2021, Russia planned to introduce a weapon designed to protect its interests for 40-50 years, a weapon they refer to as the "future weapon." This weapon is the RS-28 Sarmat, known to NATO as Satan II. Russia has stated that it is nearing the fourth phase of its development, with President Putin recently announcing that the Sarmat missile would be included in their forces "in only some days." This declaration has sent ripples of fear across the globe due to the missile's unprecedented capabilities. *Specialty and Future Implications of Sarmat* The Sarmat missile is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with an extraordinary range of approximately 18,000 km, capable of striking targets across continents. Its speed is so immense that it could reach any location in the UK within 3-5 minutes from Russia. This single weapon possesses the destructive power to obliterate entire nations like France or the UK. Physically, the Sarmat is a colossal weapon, weighing 208 tons and standing 116 feet tall, equivalent to a 14-story building. Its most terrifying feature is its warhead capacity, housing 10-15 Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), each capable of delivering a 0.75 Megaton nuclear yield to separate targets. Russia conducted multiple tests of the Sarmat in 2022, demonstrating its massive destructive potential. *Historical Predecessors: Voyevoda (Satan) and Yars* The Sarmat missile is the successor to the Voyevoda R36M, which NATO designated as "Satan." The Voyevoda was already a massive weapon, but the Sarmat (Satan II) is even larger and more powerful. President Putin's announcement about the impending deployment of Satan II was made during a graduation ceremony for military officers, signaling Russia's commitment to equipping its future generations with such advanced defensive capabilities. Russia has also been actively testing Satan II, with three reported tests in 2022-2023. Beyond Sarmat, Russia is also enhancing its Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. These Yars complexes, often called "cubs of Satan II," weigh 52 tons and also carry multiple warheads. They have a range of 12,000 km and are deployed in mobile launchers, bunkers, and mines, showcasing Russia's commitment to a robust and diversified nuclear deterrent. The Yars missile is an advanced version of the older Topol M missile, which only had one or two warheads compared to the 10-15 in Yars and Sarmat. *Strategic Objectives: Russia's Triad* Russia's ultimate goal is to achieve a "triad" — the ability to deliver nuclear weapons from land, sea, and air with modern technology. While they believe they have already fulfilled this objective, they continue to advance and enhance their capabilities. The Sarmat and Yars missiles are central to this strategy, ensuring Russia's ability to deter any aggression from any direction. Russia has stated that all its warheads should be equipped with advanced Yars complexes, integrating technologies like electronic warfare to prevent detection by radar systems. *Global Fear and Russia's Justification* The world nations fear the Sarmat because it is virtually impossible to intercept, whether by ground-based or air-based radar systems. Even if detected, Western countries currently lack the missile defense systems to effectively destroy it. Russia describes the Sarmat as its "fabulous and future weapon" and claims it will protect its children for 40-50 years. The immediate inclusion of Sarmat into Russia's force is likely a response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, where Ukraine's counter-offensive has largely failed despite significant financial and military aid from Western nations. Russia perceives this as an escalating threat and views the Sarmat as a deterrent, stating that it would entirely devastate any nation with a mentality to resist Russia. The missile's power is so immense that a single Sarmat launch could wipe a nation off the world map. Russia's statements suggest that the UK might be a potential target due to its extensive assistance to Ukraine. Russia currently possesses 65-72 prepared Yars complexes, each capable of carrying 10-12 warheads, similar to the Sarmat. Russia asserts that nuclear weapons are essential for its self-preservation, drawing parallels to how nuclear weapons protect India from hostile nations like Pakistan and China, and how they deter the US from acting against North Korea. Russia feels pressured by European Union nations and claims its attempts at negotiation have been ignored, leading them to believe that the Sarmat is necessary to defend their nation from surrounding enemies. *---By Blaze,Team MMK*