"March 1st Weapons" (Sarmat, Avangard, Kinzhal, Peresvet, Poseidon, Burevestnik) turn two today. Re-upping my thread and slides done for @IFSHHamburg last year. Hope to complete and publish a proper research paper soon!
@IFSHHamburg Few data-points on each of the March 1st beasts.
1) Sarmat ICBM - ejection tests and ground engine burns reportedly succesful, flight tests this year with deployment to begin in 2021, Uzhur. Scope of deployment and payload types might be related to the New START extension.
1) Sarmat ICBM - ejection tests and ground engine burns reportedly succesful, flight tests this year with deployment to begin in 2021, Uzhur. Scope of deployment and payload types might be related to the New START extension.
2) Avangard missile system with HGV deployed (one rgt with two silos in Dombarovsky), being put into New START, although no comments/leaks from the US side yet. Might be tricky. Eventually this HGV or its descendants would be mated to Sarmat.
3) Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missile w/MiG-31K is broadening geography of its possible deployment, probably increases in numbers. Also we see continous influx of claims that it might be mated to other carriers, e.g. Tu-22M3M, Su-57 and/or Tu-160M.
4) Poseidon large nuclear-powered UUV/'Doomsday torpedo' continued its tests, as well as Belgorod submarine, its carrier, being at final stages before commissioning. No timeline, missions can be much more interesting than intercontinental underwater nuclear payload delivery.
5) Burevestnik nuclear-powered unlimited range cruise missile under tests with mixed success, no timeline. Least publicized recently, and personally I dislike this one the most.
6) Peresvet battle laser now officialy co-deployed with Yars road-mobile ICBM units to provide some kind of cover, although no official details on what type of cover and against which threats.
