Russia successfully tested the RS-24 Yars intercontinental missile

On December 24, Russia successfully test-launched the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile using solid fuel from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia.

RS-24 Yars ballistic missile.

The RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile hit its target at the Kura range in Russia's eastern Kamchatka region, said Igor Yegorov, spokesman for Russia's Strategic Missile Forces. The purpose of the test launch was to check the missile complex's performance, reliability, safety, flight techniques and accuracy in near-combat conditions.

According to Mr. Yegorov, from 2014, Russia will plan to equip this missile complex for the Kozelskaya Missile Division and in the future, RS-24 will be the "main strength" of Russia's fixed strategic nuclear forces.

The RS-24 Yars is an improved version of the Topol-M missile, a heavy intercontinental ballistic missile. Military experts assess the outstanding advantage of the new generation RS-24 Yars as its ability to "penetrate" the US Missile Defense System (NMD).

According to VNA