Russian Strategic Missile Forces first time show newest Avangard ICBM.

Russian Strategic Missile Forces (РВСН РФ - Ракетные войска стратегического назначения Российской Федерации) first time show newest Avangard ICBM. The missile is displayed in the Museum Of The Strategic Missile Troops In Balabanovo.

The Avangard has a range of over 6,000 km, weighs approximately 2,000 kg, and can carry a nuclear or conventional payload. One TASS report said that the HGV’s nuclear warhead is “more than 2 megatons in TNT equivalent.” As a boost-glide weapon, the Avangard is carried to its apogee by a ballistic missile. This carrier is currently the SS-19 “Stiletto” (UR-100NUTTH), but will later be replaced by the R-28 “Sarmat.” Russia had initially planned to mount the Avangard on the road-mobile RS-26 “Rubezh” (SS-X-31) but chose to use the silo-based R-28 “Sarmat” after the Rubezh was delayed due to financial constraints.

Once boosted to its suborbital apogee of around 100 km, the glide vehicle separates from its rocket. It then cruises down towards its target through the atmosphere. In his March 2018 speech, Vladimir Putin claimed the HGV can maintain atmospheric speeds of up to Mach 20 (6.28 km/s) and can maneuver. This maneuverability could make Avangard’s trajectory unpredictable, complicating intercept attempts after its boost phase.