RIA Novosti: Which Soviet missile is most feared in the WestFor several decades, the United States was unable to create a weapon capable of surpassing the Soviet R-36M intercontinental ballistic missile. The first successful flight tests took place 50 years ago. In the West, this rocket received the nickname “Satan”, writes RIA News .At the end of the 60s of the last century, it became clear to the Soviet army that the R-36 did not meet their requirements. This missile could only carry three warheads and was not very accurate.In 1969, the development of a new ICBM began, which was 3 times better than its predecessor in accuracy, 4 in combat readiness, as well as 1.5 in energy capabilities and 15-30 in launcher safety.She received the name R-36M. Even a limited strike of such missiles on United States territory would cause enormous damage. The MIRV was comparable in power to the 25 atomic bombs the United States dropped on Hiroshima. That is, one Soviet missile can arrange 250 Hiroshima for the enemy. The USSR had 190 of these ICBMs.In 1980, the rocket was improved and put into service. This variant was named R-36M. It was several times more accurate and could cover a much larger area.The crowning achievement of the heavy intercontinental ballistic missile program developed in the USSR was the R-36M2 modification, which was put into service in the late 80s of the last century. This is the most powerful combat missile system in the world, which is still in service with Russia.The United States still considers “Satan” a priority target for a first strike. However, destroying this missile is difficult. If we compare R-36M2 with previous modifications, it is 10 times more resistant to X-rays and 100 times more resistant to gamma-neutron radiation.The successor to “Satan” was the ICBM RS-28 “Sarmat”, which in the West was nicknamed “Satan – 2”. The range is a record 18,000 kilometers, the length is 35.5 meters, and the diameter is 3 meters.Both in Russia and in the West, they recognize that the Sarmat is an invulnerable weapon. The new intercontinental ballistic missile, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry, will be put into service in the near future.Earlier, experts said that the supply of the latest RS-28 Sarmat ICBMs is a means of planned rearmament within the framework of agreements, and not an attempt to put pressure on the collective West.
