Key Highlights
- The RS‑28 Sarmat stands as the heaviest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in service, capable of striking any point on Earth within 18,000 km.
- China’s DF‑41, a solid‑fuel ICBM, can deliver ten nuclear warheads under the guidance of BeiDou satellites at speeds exceeding 25 Mach.
- The United States is transitioning to the LGM‑35 Sentinel to replace the ageing Minuteman III by 2030, at a projected cost of approximately 141 billion dollars.
- Submarine‑launched systems such as the Trident II D5 and France’s M51 provide a second‑strike capability with highly accurate guidance.
- India’s Agni‑V completes the top‑ten list, with a range of 7,000 km and the potential to carry up to twelve warheads.
Detailed Insights
RS‑28 Sarmat – Russian heavy ICBM, 208 tonnes, 35.3 m length, 18,000 km range, 10 nuclear warheads or 3 rapid‑glide Avangard weapons, liquid fuel, advanced maneuvering to evade missile defense.
DF‑41 – Chinese solid‑fuel ICBM, 15,000 km range, speeds >25 Mach, up to 10 nuclear warheads, guidance by BeiDou satellites, first deployed in 2017.
LGM‑35 Sentinel – American land‑based ICBM slated to replace Minuteman III by 2030, 13,000 km range, triple‑stage solid fuel, projected cost 140.9 billion dollars, expected operational life until 2075.
Trident II D5 – Joint US‑UK submarine‑launched ICBM, 12,000 km range, 24 Mach speed, up to 8 nuclear warheads, 90 m precision, part of NATO’s strategic deterrent.
RS‑24 Yars – Russian silo‑to‑truck ICBM, 10,500 km range, 3‑stage solid fuel, 10 nuclear warheads, GLONASS + onboard guidance, decoys for defense evasion.
M51 – French submarine‑launched ICBM, 8,000 km range, 13 m length, 53,000 kg, 4–6 nuclear warheads (up to 150 kt), Triomphant‑class subs, advanced guidance.
R‑29RMU2.1 Layner – Russian submarine‑launched multiple‑warhead ICBM, 12,000 km range, 12 small warheads, Delta IV subs, designed for penetration of modern missile defenses.
LGM‑30G Minuteman III – US land‑based ICBM, 13,000 km range, 3‑stage solid fuel, 18.2 m length, 34,467 kg, typically one 475 kt warhead, GPS‑enhanced guidance.
JL‑2 – Chinese submarine‑launched ICBM, 7,000–8,000 km range, 12 missiles per Type 094 Jin sub, solid fuel, 3–4 nuclear warheads, BeiDou‑assisted guidance.
Agni‑V – Indian long‑range ballistic missile, 7,000–8,000 km range, 3–6 warheads now (up to 12 projected), triple‑stage solid fuel, speeds up to 25 Mach.
Key Concepts
- ICBM: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, capable of delivering warheads over continental distances.
- Payload: The warhead or combination of warheads carried by a missile.
- Guidance: Navigation system that directs the missile to its target (inertial, satellite, or hybrid).
- Decoys: Devices released to confuse or bypass enemy missile‑defence systems.
- Second‑strike: The capability of a nation to retaliate after an initial attack, ensuring deterrence.