Russia successfully launches ICBM Sarmat from Plesetsk spaceport

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The Russian Armed Forces have successfully conducted the first launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Sarmat, within the framework of state trials, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Wednesday.

"Today, at 15:12 Moscow time [12:12 GMT], at the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Region, a Sarmat fixed-based intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully launched from a silo launcher," the ministry said.

According to Moscow, the launch tasks were completed in full, and design characteristics were confirmed at all stages of its flight. "The training warheads arrived in a planned area at the Kura training ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula," it added.

Additionally, the MoD explained that this launch was the first in the program of state trials while clarifying that flight tests of a promising heavy-class missile with a multiple reentry vehicle made it possible to assess the correctness of the schematic design and technical solutions laid down during the creation of the Sarmat missile system. 

"After the completion of the trials program, the Sarmat missile system will go into service with the Strategic Missile Forces. In the Uzhur missile formation in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, work is underway to prepare the head missile regiment for re-equipment with the new missile system," the statement further read. 

🇷🇺Today at 15:12 Moscow time, Sarmat, land-based intercontinental ballistic missile, was successfully launched from a silo at the Plesetsk state testing cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk Region. pic.twitter.com/xLsAUIDdIX

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) April 20, 2022

President Putin congratulates army on launch

Following the test launch, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Russian army on the successful launch of the ICBM, stressing that it had no analogs in the world and describing it as a "great, significant event in the development of promising weapons systems for the Russian army."

"The new system has the highest performance characteristics and is capable of overcoming all modern anti-missile defense systems. There are no similar systems in the world and the will be no for a long time," the Russian leader added.

Russia properly notified US of plans to test ICBM

The US Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby has confirmed to Sputnik that Moscow had properly notified Washington of its plans to test an ICBM.

"Russia properly notified the United States under its New START treaty obligations that it planned to test this ICBM.  Such testing is routine and was not a surprise. We did not deem the test to be a threat to the United States or its allies," Kirby said in the statement.