Video: Why Russia Won’t Sell This Missile — Even to Its Closest Allies

The RS-28 Sarmat is the world’s heaviest intercontinental ballistic missile, weighing 208 tonnes, measuring 35 metres in length, and capable of delivering up to 15 nuclear warheads across 18,000 km at hypersonic speeds while bypassing modern air defences. Unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, the super-heavy ICBM forms a crucial pillar of Russia’s nuclear triad and is intended to replace the ageing Soviet-era R-36M “Satan” missiles.

Despite its unmatched global strike capability and Russia’s traditionally close military partnerships — including with India — Moscow has no plans to export the RS-28 Sarmat. The restriction stems from strategic, technical, and geopolitical considerations, as the missile represents the core of Russia’s ultimate nuclear deterrence and is therefore reserved exclusively for national defence.