Russia puts ‘superweapon’ Satan II missiles on combat duty

Russia announced Friday it had put its nuclear-capable Satan II intercontinental ballistic missiles on combat duty for the first time.

The missile, also known as Sarmat — and classified as a “superweapon” by Russia — was introduced in 2018 and had been scheduled to be deployed for combat duty at the end of 2022.

“The Sarmat strategic complex has been put on combat duty,” Yury Borisov, the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, said in a media appearance organized by Russia’s Knowledge Society, the state news service TASS reported.

The Sarmat — or Satan II — missile will replace the aging Soviet-era Voyevoda intercontinental ballistic missile, known by the NATO designation SS-18 Satan, which has been in Russia’s arsenal since 1988.

With an estimated range between 6,200 and 11,800 miles, Satan II has the capability to deliver a 10-ton payload containing 10 to 15 nuclear warheads at once to any location around the world.

After a successful test launch of Satan II last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that Satan II had no competition and would make Russia’s enemies “think twice” before issuing threats.

Russia’s saber-rattling leader also warned the missile “is capable of overcoming all modern means of anti-missile defense.”

Asked Friday about Russia’s “superweapon,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on a conference call that he was not in a position to confirm reports that Satan II missiles had been put on combat duty.

With Post wires