MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. The first launch of Russia’s advanced Sarmat silo-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is scheduled to take place this fall, a defense industry source has told TASS.

"The first launch of Sarmat as part of flight development tests will presumably take place this fall, the second one - in late 2021," the source said.

TASS did not receive an official confirmation of this information at the time of the publication.

Krasmash plant Director General Alexander Gavrilov told TASS in June that Sarmat flight tests had been scheduled for the third quarter of 2021.

Sarmat is to replace R-36M2 Voevoda missiles, which have been the most powerful in the world and operational since 1970s. Sarmat considerably exceeds the predecessor. Some of its characteristics were disclosed at Army-2019 forum. The new missile weighs 208.1 tons, the payload is close to 10 tons and the fuel is 178 tons. The range of Sarmat is 18,000 kilometers.

It can fly by unpredictable routes and bypass missile defense areas. It can fly over the North and South Pole and approach targets from directions that are not envisaged for interception. Sarmat can carry a line of reentry vehicles, including hypersonic Avangard gliders.

Military experts say that Sarmat missiles will help deter the United States’ plans of deploying its global missile defense system.