Russia’s Sarmat missile test fails to mask strategic shortfalls, says British analyst

British military analyst Hamish de Bretton‑Gordon argues that President Vladimir Putin’s recent test of the RS‑28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile – dubbed “Satan II” – is largely a propaganda move and does not reflect genuine strategic strength. The Kremlin claims the missile can deliver a payload four times larger than any competitor and strike targets up to 21,750 miles away, but the analyst notes the programme has suffered repeated delays, technical failures and relies on liquid‑fuel that requires long preparation and fixed silo launch sites.

De Bretton‑Gordon points out that the Sarmat’s “fractional‑orbital” trajectory, while intended to evade missile defenses, is vulnerable to existing U.S. interceptor systems such as Patriot, SM‑3 and the upcoming SM‑6, which have already proven capable of intercepting similar Russian weapons like the hypersonic Kinzhal and Zircon. He concludes that Russia’s strategic arsenal is “out‑dated” compared with innovations from Ukraine, the United States and China, and that even the newest “super‑weapons” cannot compensate for broader technological gaps.