Russia has issued a brand new threat to the West by offering a glimpse inside the Siberian plant where a new Satan-2 hypersonic missile is set for mass production.
Defence minister Sergei Shoigu showed off the plant today (Saturday, October 7) where the intercontinental weapon will be created in preparation for "combat duty in the very near future". The "unstoppable" Doomsday missile can reach speeds of 15,880mph and is the size of a 14-storey tower block.
"To fulfil the decision of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin), the Sarmat [Satan-2] advanced strategic missile system is being put on combat duty," Shoigu said.
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Footage of the system was released in an apparent show of strength as Putin marks his 71st birthday today. Russia's defence ministry added: "The company is currently producing the first production missiles, which will be put on combat duty in the very near future."
The system is being built at the Krasmash plant and is said to be in the final stages of "construction, installation and commissioning work". The production of the missiles is so involved, a new facility spanning nearly 200,000 square feet is also in the works.
The news comes after the development of Satan-2 hit a series of roadblocks. Deployment of the giant weapon has been delayed, with Shoigu warning plant bosses getting the bomb up and running "is a priority in ensuring the country's defence capability."
Putin also admitted that while work was finished on the creation of the "super heavy missile", military bosses were still battling delays to get it up and running. "We just need to finish some of the procedures in a purely administrative and bureaucratic way and move on to mass production and putting them on combat duty," the warmonger said. "And we will do this in the near future."
The Satan-2 was initially meant to be deployed towards the end of last year. Ten months ago the dictator admitted there "will be a certain delay" getting the rockets to launch.
"In the near future, Sarmat ICBMs will be put on combat duty for the first time," he said at the time. "We know there will be a certain delay in time but this does not change our plans."
So far there has only been evidence of one successful test of the Satan-2 – when more than a dozen are usually required before a missile can be used in combat.
The Moscow Times reported: "The Russian military-industrial complex is experiencing problems with one of the main missiles of the 'nuclear triad', designed to replace the Soviet nuclear legacy, which is rapidly turning into junk.
"The Sarmat missile system, which is being developed to replace the Voevoda…. intercontinental missiles that have been in service since the 1980s, has not yet been put into mass production and has not entered service with the troops, President Vladimir Putin admitted."
And it's not the only Russian weapon experiencing a hold-up. Burevestnik, dubbed "Flying Chernobyl" for its destructive capabilities, was declared ready for deployment by Putin earlier this week – but Western sources have so far only heard of 13 tests of the powerful missile, all of which have failed.
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