Arms Control Wonk: Leading Voices on Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

From Satan to Sarmat

ACW Podcast

Russia tested the RS-28 Sarmat heavy ICBM, which will replace the SS-18/RS-36M Satan.   What’s it for?  Aaron and Jeffrey talk about the role of heavy ICBMs, the foundational assumption for counterforce, the rise of orbital bombardment systems (FOBS!!!!!!!!), the collapse of the ABM Treaty and the future of space-based interceptors. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!

An Iran War Vibe Check

It’s been a long time, we shouldnt have left you, but we got a dope pod to step too. Or at least we think so. After a brief hiatus, Aaron and Jeffrey return to discuss the latest from the Iran war and what it means for arms control. It ends with Jeffrey geeking out on …

It Really Looks Like A PrSM

The New York Times has a second story by Christiaan Triebert, John Ismay, Alexander Cardia, Leanne Abraham and Azmat Khanout that concludes … well, the title says it all: “New Evidence Further Implicates U.S. Missiles in Strikes That Killed 21 Civilians in Iran.” I am quoted estimating the length of the object as about fifteen …

Analysis of Patriot Incident in Bahrain

This is the longer analysis of a news story (“Patriot Missile Involved in Bahrain Blast Likely U.S. Operated, Analysis Finds,”) we did with Jonathan Landay, M.B. Pell, and Travis Hartman at Reuters on the Patriot incident in Bahrain on March 9, 2026. By Jeffrey Lewis, Michael Duitsman, and Sam Lair 1.  Summary Assessment We assess …