Russia has successfully tested its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, Sergei Karakayev, the commander of the strategic missile forces, told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
Putin said that Russia planned to put the Sarmat on combat duty by the end of this year.
The Kremlin also said that work on the ‘Poseidon’ and ‘Burevestnik’ missile systems were in their final stages.
Russian media reported that Karakayev told the Russian leader that the tests ‘confirmed the missile’s intended performance.’
The military exercises, which involved intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICMBs), lasted until May 10, according to reports.
Between May 9 and 11, 2026, a Russian NOTAM indicated a SS-N-23 missile launch from the Barents Sea to the Kura test range.
To monitor this and a potential simultaneous Sarmat ICBM test, two USAF Cobra Ball aircraft were deployed on an overnight reconnaissance mission.
Two US RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft, designed to track ballistic missile tests, had been active on patrols from Alaska in recent days.
The RS-28 Sarmat has only had one successful mission previously in April 2022.
A test launch of a nuclear-capable Sarmat missile – aka Satan-2 – on April 20 2022
