Russia's Sarmat Missile Test Ends in Catastrophic Failure

Satellite imagery reveals a massive crater at the launch site, marking the fourth failed test of the intercontinental ballistic missile.

The test of the RS-28 Sarmat missile, also known as Satan II, resulted in a 200-foot-wide crater at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.
Experts suggest the missile likely exploded shortly after ignition or during the fueling process, causing extensive damage to the launch site.
This failure adds to a series of setbacks for the Sarmat program, which has seen only one successful test out of five attempts.
The delays in the Sarmat's development put additional pressure on the aging SS-18 missiles that it was intended to replace.
The incident raises concerns about the viability of Russia's missile modernization efforts amid heightened tensions with the West.