Prestigious Sarmat missile exploded in failed test

What last week was a launch pad now looks like a disastrous bomb crater. High-resolution satellite images shared by the Institute for the Study of War over the weekend give no doubts. The silo from where Russia’s new super-missile, by NATO named SS-X-29, has exploded.

There are also significant damage nearby infrastructure and houses. The forest some few hundred meters from the launch pad is on fire.

Maxar collected new high-resolution satellite imagery yesterday (September 21st) that reveals the aftermath of a dramatic launch failure of a Russian RS-28 ICBM at a launch site in the Plesetsk cosmodrome. @Maxar

Launch site before vs after pic.twitter.com/ikel3UBii6

— George Barros (@georgewbarros) September 22, 2024

The missile likely exploded during fueling or shortly after ignition as the forest fire is an indication that ignitable fuel was blown hundreds of meters from the pad.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented on the images that on Sunday were widespread on internet. 

Plesetsk cosmodrome is located in the Arkhangelsk region and is Russia’s main testing site for ballistic nuclear missiles. If successful launch, the missiles fly across the Arctic towards the Kura testing ground in northern Kamchatka.

The Sarmat is supposed to replace the ageing SS-18 and is one of the six strategic nuclear weapons systems Vladimir Putin was flexing in his 2018 state-of-the-nation speech.

Despite several failed tests in recent years, Russian state controlled information outlet RIA Novosti last year reported the Sarmat to be operational and with the first missiles already on duty.