Russia successfully tested RS-24 Yars intercontinental missile

On December 24, Russia successfully test-launched the RS-24 Yars solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile 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, a 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 force" 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