Russian President Vladimir Putin said the new RS-28 “Sarmat” intercontinental ballistic missile can bypass all existing and prospective air-defense systems [1].
The claim highlights Russia's effort to modernize its strategic nuclear deterrent during a period of heightened global instability. If the missile can evade interception, it would potentially neutralize the effectiveness of current missile defense investments by other nations.
Putin said these remarks during a press briefing in Moscow on Oct. 26, 2025 [2]. The RS-28 Sarmat is designed as a nuclear-capable weapon intended to ensure the country's ability to strike targets regardless of the defensive measures in place [1].
However, the actual performance of the weapon remains a subject of dispute among observers. Some reports indicate that Russia conducted a successful test of the missile [3]. Other analysts, citing available imagery, said the Sarmat suffered a catastrophic failure during its testing phase [4].
This discrepancy in reporting has led to questions regarding the missile's true capabilities. While the Kremlin maintains the weapon is a breakthrough in military technology, some researchers said the evidence of test failure calls into question the claim that the missile can reliably evade defenses [4].
Russia has not provided detailed technical data to resolve the conflicting reports regarding the test outcome. The Sarmat remains a central component of the Russian military's nuclear triad, the combination of land-based missiles, submarines, and strategic bombers [1].
“The RS-28 “Sarmat” intercontinental ballistic missile can bypass all existing and prospective air-defence systems.”
The contradiction between official Kremlin statements and independent researcher analysis suggests a gap between Russia's strategic signaling and its actual technical achievements. By claiming the Sarmat is invincible to air defenses, Putin is engaging in psychological deterrence, regardless of whether the hardware has reached full operational reliability.
