The Russian government announced that it has successfully tested a Yars silo-based ICBM, which reportedly loaded with experimental warheads. The ICBM has been launched from the Plesetsk space center in Northern Russia. The Russian made the big announcement this week.
According to Sputnik News, the RS-24 Yars ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) has been successfully tested last Tuesday.
The missile landed somewhere in the country’s Far East Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia, Russia. The Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that the test went well and all task has been fulfilled. The goal of the latest ICBM test was to ensure the reliability of the Yars ICBMs and deterrence of the Russian nuclear arsenal.
About the RS-24 Yars ICBM
The RS-24 Yars, which also known as Topol-MR, was introduced into Russia Strategic Rocket Forces in July 2010. The new ICBM is an upgraded version of the thermonuclear-armed Topol-M ballistic missile that can be fired both from a mobile launcher (truck or railroad) and stationary base (silo).
The ICBM, which has a range of up to 6,800 miles, is capable of carrying multiple warheads that can be targeted independently. The RS-24 Yars has first introduced a decade ago and has been on Russia’s nuclear arsenal for the past seven years.
Originally, the RS-24 Yars was developed to replace the aging R-36 and UR-100N, which have been in service for nearly 50 years. The solid-fuel ICBM was first tested on May 29, 2007, after a top-secret military project.
However, the Russian government came under fire when they officially revealed to the world the RS-24 Yars ICBM. The latest START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) prohibited any countries to increase the number of warheads attributed to ICBMs.
But according to Russia, the RS-24 was a completely new ICBM. Watch the video below to learn about this missile.
Russia continues to build up its nuclear arsenal
As mentioned earlier by Sputnik News, the Russia Strategic Rocket Forces have been beefing up its nuclear arsenal, adding new weapons to its list, including the RS-24 Yars ICBM. As part of the Russian’s massive build up, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced extensive military drills, involving 11 strategic regiments across 20 regions in Russia. Additionally, the Russia Strategic Rocket Force also tested its submarine-based Bulava ICBM last June. The Bulava missile has successfully hit the same target as in the latest test, which located near the Pacific coast.
According to the UK-based Daily Star, Russia is aiming to entirely switch over to the Yars missiles, which were first introduced to service in 2010. In addition to Yars, Russia is also planning a test of its RS-28 Sarmat super-heavy thermonuclear missile this coming October. Codenamed SS-X-30 Satan 2 by the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the thermonuclear-armed RS-28 Sarmat is expected to enter service by 2020.