OSINT analysts reported an explosion of the Sarmat missile during tests at the Plesetsk cosmodrome
. The Sarmat intercontinental missile exploded during tests in Plesetsk, the OSINT project MeNMyRC reported , which was cited by the more famous OSINT analysts Intelschizo and MT Anderson . MeNMyRC based its conclusions on satellite images showing a large crater in Plesetsk, as well as data on the flights of American reconnaissance aircraft.
Details. According to MeNMyRC, the huge crater indicates that the missile exploded in the silo, destroying the test site. The fire in the area of the test site was recorded by the NOAA-20 and SUOMI NPP satellites, the expert reported.
▪️An American Boeing RC-135S Cobra Ball reconnaissance aircraft flew out from an American base in Alaska to observe the Sarmat tests, MeNMyRC clarifies, citing FlightRadar24 data. However, it did not record the launch, the publication says. According to the expert, this may be explained by the fact that the explosion could have occurred not directly during the launch, but, for example, during the fuel loading process.
▪️The missile that exploded was not armed with a nuclear charge, the Military Informant channel wrote without citing a source.
Context. Previously, Western media reported five unsuccessful Sarmat launches. Russia tested the missile four times in 2017 and 2018, CNBC wrote . According to the channel, the longest test flight of the Sarmat lasted just over two minutes: the missile flew just over 35 kilometers before losing control and crashing. In February 2023, CNN sources reported another unsuccessful Sarmat launch.
▪️The only successful launch of the rocket occurred on April 20, 2022.
▪️Despite the unsuccessful launches, Vladimir Putin ordered that Sarmat be put on combat duty in 2022, which was done in September 2023.
▪️The Sarmat is used by Russia's leadership to intimidate the West. During his 2018 State of the Union address, Putin showed a video of the missile falling on Florida.