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Putin’s "Unrivaled" Nuclear Missile Struggles Without Ukraine’s Rocket Science

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Putin’s "Unrivaled" Nuclear Missile Struggles Without Ukraine’s Rocket Science
The RS-28 Sarmat ICBM. (Source: Russian Defense Ministry)

Russia's RS-28 ‘Sarmat’ missile, often touted by Putin as unmatched in power, has struggled in tests, revealing its reliance on Ukrainian technology. The missile's liquid-fuel engine, a key component, was developed by Ukrainian design bureaus before 2014, The Moscow Times reported on January 30.

‘Sarmat’ is a next-generation strategic missile system designed to replace the Soviet-era R-36 ‘Voevoda’ missile, which has been in service since the 1970s. The Sarmat is a heavy, liquid-fueled ICBM , a type of missile that experts say Russia has struggled to develop due to a lack of domestic expertise. Much of the technology for such missiles was historically developed by Ukrainian design bureaus, particularly in the city of Dnipro, where the ‘Pivdenne’ design bureau pioneered liquid-fueled ICBMs.

Timothy Wright, a missile expert from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, explained that the choice of a liquid-fuel engine for the Sarmat was “very strange” given Russia's lack of experience in this area.

“Historically, it was the Ukrainians who developed these technologies,” Wright told Business Insider, adding that this is one of the key reasons Russia has faced significant problems with the Sarmat's development.

Before the attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Russia’s invasion of East of Ukraine, Ukrainian missile experts continued to work with Russia. After 2014, military cooperation between the two countries was severed.

In 2013, Russia's State Rocket Center, known as Makeyev, took over the task of developing a successor to the ‘Voevoda.’ After 2014, the center also assumed responsibility for maintaining the R-36 missiles in service, though this arrangement was temporary, and the missiles have not been launched in years. Instead, they have only undergone annual inspections, according to Maxim Starchak, an expert on Russian strategic weapons, writing for the Carnegie Endowment in 2023.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touted Russia's RS-28 Sarmat ICBM as an unrivaled weapon, promising it would soon be ready for deployment. State media even claimed it could destroy cities like London and Strasbourg, home to the European Parliament.

On September 20, Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat ICBM test at Plesetsk Cosmodrome reportedly failed, exploding in its launch silo and leaving a massive crater, OSINT analyst MeNMyRC reported. This marks the missile’s fourth failed test, despite Russia’s claims it was combat-ready.

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Intercontinental Ballistic Missile