Russia test fires intercontinental ballistic missile nicknamed ‘Satan 2’ by NATO.

The RS-28 Sarmat will replace the Soviet-built Voevoda missile and be inducted into service by 2021.

Russia on Friday tested an intercontinental ballistic missile called the RS-28 Sarmat, which the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nicknamed “Satan 2”, CNN reported.

The missile, which was first test-fired in December 2017, was launched from the Plesetsk spaceport in northern Russia. It will replace the Soviet-built Voevoda intercontinental ballistic missile, which is approaching the end of its service life, the Sputnik news agency reported.

The RS-28 Sarmat can cross the South Pole as well as the North Pole, the shortest route between Russia and the United States, CNN reported. Russian state-run news agency TASS reported in 2016 that the missile would have a range of more than 11,000 km and its warhead would weigh 100 tonnes.

The Russian military will start producing the missile in 2020 and induct it into service by 2021, TASS reported. “The first regiment armed with this missile is to enter duty in the Uzhur-based division,” an unidentified defence official said.

The RS-28 Sarmat was among the missiles that Russian President Vladimir Putin had claimed can hit almost any point in the world without being intercepted. (Source: Scroll.in)