Russia to soon test Satan 2 - a missile that can carry a payload powerful enough to destroy countries

Russia is all set to test Satan 2 ballistic missile that could carry payload large enough to wipe out an area as large as France.

According to a report by Daily mail, RS-28 Sarmat which is better known by its NATO nickname Satan 2 is a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile that the Russian military claims can beat any defence and is capable of wiping out whole countries.

The report also indicated that while initial trials will be carried out in the coming months at Plesetsk testing ground in Western Russia, the weapon will be operational only around by 2019-2020.

The missile is estimated to have a range of 10,000 kilometres with a capacity to travel at a speed of 7 km per second. Sources have claimed that missile could carry warheads that weigh around 40 megatons i.e. 2000 times powerful than the atomic bombs that exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Television channel Zvezda was quoted in the report by Daily Mail claiming that the missile can 'wipe out UK, France or Texas'.

The project was initially conceived by Russian authorities in 2009 but met several hurdles including failure in the initial stages.

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Russia is implementing a re-armament program of over Rs 42 lakh crore in an effort to beef up its military strength. While the range and power of the missile itself should be a cause for worry, the fact that it is capable of carrying Object 4202 - a hypersonic warhead, further raises concerns.