Satellite imagery shows a massive crater at the test site (Picture: Radio Svoboda)
Russia’s plans for their ‘doomsday’ hypersonic missiles have been delayed for years after the Satan-2 missile exploded during a test launch.
The huge detonation destroyed Russia’s only site suitable for testing the doomsday hypersonic rocket, the centrepiece of Vladimir Putin’s bragging of nuclear superiority compared to the West.
The explosion at Plesetsk is now known to have partially wrecked an observation building close to the launch site, with fears some of Russia’s lead rocket scientists could be dead.
Experts say the test programme for the rocket – also known as RS-28 Sarmat – may now be delayed for years, or could even be aborted after a series of failed launches.
Satellite images show a giant 200ft wide crater and scorched earth on the site of the Satan-2 launch shaft.
Fires raged for six-to-twelve hours after the catastrophic incident as firefighters attempted to fight the blaze.
Previous launches of Sarmat missiles have not gone well (Picture: East2West)
The crater measures more than 200ft across, according to estimates (Picture: East2West)
Russian state media has been censored from reporting the explosion at Plesetsk, and any reasons behind it.
Open source intelligence analyst MeNMyRC said evidence seems to indicate the missile test had been aborted before the explosion.
It may have been triggered by defuelling of the rocket’s highly dangerous propellant, which produces flammable vapours in the air.
Another theory is that a propellant leak in the silo led to the catastrophic event after the launch was aborted.
The latest test launch failure is another blow to Russia, as they previously claimed the ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic missile was designed to strike the West by flying over the North or South Poles.
Satan-2 carries ten nuclear warheads of 750 kilotons each.
Putin has boasted repeatedly about Russia’s missile capabilities (Picture: Reuters)
Test launches for the deadly missile have been set back by years, according to Norweigan analyst Thord Are Iversen: ‘This was the only silo at Plesetsk for testing Sarmat and it now has to be built from scratch again.
“They will have the silos at Uzhur available soon but whether they can or will use them for tests remains to be seen.”
The destroyed silo is the one used for the only successful Satan-2 test launch to date, in April 2022.
Russia had issued and later revoked a NOTAM – Notice to Airmen or Notice to Air Missions – evidently related to the missile test.
Putin may be forced to cancel the programme altogether due to the repeated failures.
Putin insisted on putting the missile in mass production then deploying it with troops earlier this year despite only one successful test.
The Sarmat-Satan-2 complex is due to replace the ‘Satan’ missile which has been in service since the 1980s.
Reports have said Sarmat has been hit during the war in Ukraine by Western sanctions that have prevented its makers obtaining key components.
Russian propagandists regularly threaten to strike the West with Satan-2, with Putin himself saying in 2022: ‘This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces, reliably ensure Russia’s security from external threats, and make those who try to threaten our country with aggressive rhetoric think twice.’
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