The missile meant to strike fear in Russia’s enemies fails once again

Vladimir Putin's prized "superweapon" continues to disappoint. A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) recently failed spectacularly on a test launch, marking the latest in a string of setbacks for Russia's next-generation heavy-duty ICBM program.

The Sarmat missile, which boasts an impressive range of over 11,000 miles and can carry multiple warheads, is supposed to be the backbone of Russia's nuclear arsenal. However, its first full-scale test flight in 2022 ended in disaster, followed by a catastrophic explosion last year that destroyed one of its underground silos. Now, it seems the Sarmat may be struggling even more.

Eyewitnesses report that the missile veered off course immediately after launch and lost power before crashing a short distance from the launch site. Satellite images show a crater and burn scar near the missile silo, suggesting that the blast was significant enough to cause widespread damage.

The circumstances of the launch suggest that it may have been a test of the Sarmat, but analysts agree that the failure is likely due to the missile's propensity for malfunctioning. "It's extremely unlikely that the Rocket Forces would want to test launch them," says Pavel Podvig, a senior researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.

The failure adds fresh uncertainty to Russia's nuclear arsenal, which has been plagued by delays and setbacks in recent years. As Russia's military resources are diverted to fight the war in Ukraine, the country's modernization of its nuclear forces has stalled. This raises questions about the readiness of Russia's nuclear deterrent and whether it can be relied upon to fulfill its strategic obligations.

While Sarmat has floundered, Russia's smaller ICBMs have proven more reliable. Analysts say that these missiles, which are equipped with mobile launchers, may become the primary option for Russia in the future.

In a recent speech, Vladimir Putin declared that the Sarmat missile would undergo "combat trials" before the end of this year and enter service next year. However, given the latest failure, it's clear that Russian leaders cannot rely on this superweapon to fulfill its commitments. The program may need to be revised or even canceled altogether.

As tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate, the fate of the Sarmat missile program hangs in the balance. Will Russia find a way to overcome its technical woes and make this "superweapon" a reality, or will it become just another casualty of Vladimir Putin's nuclear gamble?

Wow , Russia's nuclear ambitions are taking a hit... again! This is getting out of hand, like, what's going on with that Sarmat missile?! First, the test launch ends in disaster, then another explosion last year, and now it fails spectacularly . You'd think they'd get it right by now, but nope... It just keeps disappointing . And what's the point of having a "superweapon" if it can't even do its job? Russia needs to sort this out ASAP , or else it'll be a total embarrassment

just heard about another fail from Russia on their super-super ICBM program the sarmat thingy is supposed to be the best but it can't even get off the ground without crashing what a disaster these guys need to get their act together or else they'll be left in the dust i mean its not like russia's got nothing better to do than try and catch up with the west on nuclear tech

The Sarmat is like a perpetual thorn in Russia's side . I mean, 11,000 miles is already an impressive range, but if the thing can't even get out of the starting gate without a major malfunction... it just doesn't add up . I'm not surprised Putin's still trying to push through with this program, he's always been about showmanship over substance . But seriously, if they can't rely on this supposed "superweapon", how can we trust them to keep their nuclear commitments? It's like a double-edged sword - Russia needs the Sarmat to look tough, but it's also holding them back from modernizing their actual military capabilities .

omg, like what's going on with russia's nukes lol they're supposed to have this super powerful sarmat missile that can hit targets from 11k miles away and now it fails miserably what if they need it for the ukraine war? i guess we should be worried about russia's nuclear arsenal being unreliable rn maybe they should focus on making those smaller icbms that are working instead of wasting time on sarmat

I'm starting to think that Russia's obsession with this superweapon is gonna be their downfall . I mean, can't they see that all these setbacks are just delaying the inevitable? The Sarmat has been a pipe dream from day one and now it's showing signs of being more like a white elephant . Meanwhile, Russia's smaller ICBMs have proven to be more reliable, so why not just focus on those instead? It's like they're trying to prove something that's never gonna happen . And what's with all the talk about "combat trials" and "entering service next year"? That sounds like a fancy way of saying "we'll see" . The fact is, Russia needs to accept that this program is flawed and move on from it before someone gets hurt. It's time for them to stop chasing this myth and start focusing on something that actually works .

I'm really worried about Russia's nuclear situation right now . I mean, you'd think that with all the advancements in tech, they'd be able to get their act together by now. But nope, it seems like they're still stuck in the dark ages when it comes to reliable hardware. The Sarmat missile is supposed to be this super powerful tool for Russia's nuclear arsenal, but it just can't seem to get off the ground (literally). It's frustrating because you'd think that with the stakes being so high, they'd be able to nail down a system that works. But instead, we're seeing setback after setback . It'll be interesting to see what happens next – will Russia find a way to overcome their technical issues or will this superweapon remain a pipe dream?

oh man, this is not good news... just when you thought russia was trying to get serious about its nukes, they go and fail spectacularly again . i mean, 11k miles range and multiple warheads and it still manages to veer off course and crash on test launch? that's some next-level bad luck . and now they're gonna have to rely on their smaller ICBMs which are, let's be real, not as cool . this is like russia's nuclear program is just one big mess and now we gotta wonder if they'll ever get it together or if the sarmat will become another failed experiment

idk why russia even bother with these fancy missiles lol they cant even get one right 11k miles is like, overkill. what's the point of having a superpower if you can't even use it properly? and now we gotta worry about their nukes too. this is getting serious

omg, like, can't believe what's happening with those Russian missiles they're literally failing left and right. I mean, I knew Russia was struggling in the war in Ukraine, but not to this extent . It's like, how can you have a superweapon that can't even do its job properly? And it's not just this one missile, it's the whole program . I feel bad for Putin and his team, they're stuck with this mess. Maybe Russia should just focus on making those smaller missiles reliable instead of trying to make this massive Sarmat thing work

I'm telling ya, Russia's been riding high on their ICBM game for so long, but now it seems like they're struggling to get off the ground . The Sarmat missile is supposed to be this super powerful weapon, but it's more like a rollercoaster that's constantly crashing . First, it fails during its test flight in 2022, then there's this latest disaster where it veers off course and explodes on launch day. I'm not sure what's going on with Russia's nuclear program, but it seems like they're stuck in a never-ending loop of setbacks .

I mean, it's great that their smaller ICBMs are proving reliable, but the Sarmat's supposed to be the backbone of their arsenal . If it can't deliver, what's the point? And with tensions between Russia and the West escalating, you'd think they'd want to have a reliable nuclear deterrent . But instead, we're stuck wondering if Russia will even get this "superweapon" off the ground .

It's like they say, "all good things must come to an end," but I'm not sure what'll happen to the Sarmat program next . Will they revise it or cancel it altogether? Only time will tell .

I'm surprised they even bother testing the thing out . Like, come on, you can't launch something that's gonna be used in a life-or-death situation and expect it to work flawlessly from the get-go. It's just asking for trouble. And what's with all these delays and setbacks? Russia needs to get its priorities straight and focus on actually making this thing work . Those smaller ICBMs might as well be the future of Russia's nuclear arsenal, imo . I mean, if Putin's got his heart set on this superweapon, he's gonna have to put in some serious effort to make it happen... or admit defeat and move on

I'm thinking, you know? Russia's got some major issues with their new ICBM, Sarmat . Like, what's up with all these failures? You'd think they'd have something right by now. It's not just the test launch that failed, but also that big explosion last year... it's like they're trying to create a nuclear mess over here .

I mean, I get it, Putin wants this superweapon to be the backbone of their nuke arsenal, but come on, can't they get it together? The West is already getting worried about Russia's nuclear capabilities, and now this? It's like they're shooting themselves in the foot .

And what's with the mobile launchers for smaller ICBMs? That's a good idea, actually. Maybe that's where Russia should focus instead of trying to make this super-expensive Sarmat work .

Anyway, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if Russia can get their act together or if they'll end up canceling the program altogether .

I mean, what a complete surprise . Another one of Putin's super-weapons fails spectacularly . I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that Russia's next-gen ICBM can't even launch without crashing . Like, what's next? A space program run by toddlers?

It's not like this is the third time we've heard about the Sarmat having major issues or anything... Still, you'd think they'd have it figured out by now . Meanwhile, their smaller ICBMs are getting the job done , and the West is just waiting with bated breath to see if Russia can get this one right too .

I'm all for Russia's nuclear modernization efforts, but come on, Vlad , can't you afford a decent quality control team? Maybe it's time to revisit that whole "nuclear gamble" thing and try something a bit less... explosive .

I'm really worried about these ICBM failures , especially with tensions between Russia and the West on the rise. It seems like they're not even getting their own superweapons right , which is a major concern for global security. What if this happens during a real conflict? We should be prepared for any scenario, but it's hard to do that when you can't even rely on your most advanced military technology . The fact that they're diverting resources to Ukraine already puts their nuclear arsenal at risk . Can we afford to wait and see how this plays out? I hope Russia gets its act together soon .

omg can't believe russia's sarmat missile is still having issues anyway, stats show that russia's nuclear arsenal has been in decline since 2010, with a 20% decrease in ICBM launches between 2015-2022 and now this latest fail just adds to the drama what's worse is that this setback might lead to a delay in modernization programs, which could impact global security btw did u know that russia's nuclear arsenal is still mostly based on outdated systems from the soviet era? like, the russia's ICBM fleet has an average service life of around 10 years and with the sarmat program still struggling, it's a wonder they don't have more failures

chart: decline in russian ICBM launches since 2015

graph: russia's nuclear arsenal modernization timeline
2020-2025: expected to be completed with sarmat missile (now in doubt)
2025+: expected to be completed with new ICBMs (likely smaller and more reliable)

I feel bad for the Russian people, they're already dealing with so much stress over there... I mean, can you imagine having to invest all that money and resources into a "superweapon" that just keeps failing? It's like throwing good money after bad. And now, it's raising concerns about their nuclear deterrence and readiness. That's not good for anyone, especially with the situation in Ukraine and all...

omg i cant believe russia is having so much trouble with their super advanced missile i mean i get that tech isnt always easy to perfect but 11k miles is a long way to go wrong on a test launch lol what if theyve been testing it nonstop and its just been getting progressively worse? i think its safe to say that russia needs to take a step back and reassess their nuclear plans maybe its time to focus on upgrading their smaller, mobile ICBMs instead of trying to perfect the Sarmat

omg, i cant even believe what's happening with russia's nukes they had all these hopes on the sarmat missile but now it looks like its gonna be a total dud anyway, i think this is actually good news for the west we shouldnt have to worry about russias nuclear arsenal right now and yeah, those smaller icbms might be a better bet for russia in the future they can at least rely on them instead of risking their entire nuke program on one super weapon

This is so disappointing for Russia. Their super-advanced ICBM was supposed to be their ace card but it keeps failing on test launches. It's like they're stuck in a video game glitch . First, the launch site goes boom, then there's another explosion that destroys one of its silos... that's not normal, you know?

And now it seems like the Sarmat might just be a fancy paperweight . Their smaller ICBMs are working fine, so why bother with all these new-fangled missiles? It's like they're trying to build a Lego castle out of Jenga blocks .

Putin says it'll be ready by the end of this year, but I'm not holding my breath . If Russia can't even get their own super-advanced missile program working, what makes them think they can rely on it in a real fight? It's just more uncertainty for everyone involved .

I hope Russia gets its act together soon, but until then... I don't know, man .