Reuters —Russia appears to have suffered a “catastrophic failure” in a test of its Sarmat missile, a key weapon in the modernization of its nuclear arsenal, according to arms experts who have analyzed satellite images of the launch site. It’s a big hole in the ground,” said Pavel Podvig, an analyst based in Geneva, who runs the Russian Nuclear Forces project. A September 21 satellite image shows a closer view of the launch site after the apparent launch failure. Maxar TechnologiesIISS analyst Wright said a test failure did not necessarily mean that the Sarmat program was in jeopardy. “However, this is the fourth successive test failure of Sarmat which at the very least will push back its already delayed introduction into service even further and at most might raise questions about the program’s viability,” he said.

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Persons: Maxar, ”, Pavel Podvig, Timothy Wright, James Acton, Vladimir Putin, Satan, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Wright, Moscow –, Nikolai Sokov Organizations: Reuters, Plesetsk, Russian Nuclear Forces, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Technologies, SS, Design, Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology Locations: Russia, United States, Europe, Geneva, London, Ukraine, Moscow, Plesetsk, Arkhangelsk, Russian, Soviet