On Friday, the head of the state space agency Roscosmos, Yury Borisov, announced to the media that the Satan II missile, a "superweapon" capable of carrying ten nuclear warheads, has been put into combat services after its official deployment was delayed until the end of last year.
"The Sarmat strategic complex has been put on combat duty," Borisov said, according to state news agency RIA Novosti.
This missile is a new generation strategic weapon to replace the outdated Voyevoda ballistic missile, which has been part of the Russian arsenal since 1988 and was known by the NATO designation as SS-18 Satan.
This Satan II, also known as Sarmat, was cataloged by the Russian head of state, Vladimir Putin, as an "invincible" weapon that would make Russia's enemies "think twice" before launching threats.
The Sarmat is part of a new-generation missile plan unveiled by Putin in 2018, including the Kinzhal and Avangard hypersonic missiles.
The Satan II has an estimated range between 6,200 and 11,800 miles and can carry a 10-ton payload containing between 10 and 15 nuclear warheads at a time anywhere in the world.
According to Putin himself, the Satan II also features a design that "is capable of surpassing all modern means of missile defense."
According to The Moscow Times, Russia tested one of its Sarmat nuclear warheads during a visit to Ukraine by US President Joe Biden in February 2023, but apparently, the test was unsuccessful.
John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, was asked by reporters Friday about the launch of Satan II and said in a conference call that he was not in a position to confirm the reports.
