SMF boasts about its new launch well design, leaving the US at a disadvantage.

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) have unexpectedly released a video showing the loading of RS-24 Yars missiles into launch silos – a missile more powerful than US ICBMs.

The video, posted by RT, shows that the missile unit in Kozelsk conducting this training exercise is the first in Russia to be armed with the silo-launched version of the Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The video shows the transport of a massive missile, the kind capable of destroying an entire city. The truck carrying the intercontinental ballistic missile is escorted by police, firefighters, and military vehicles.

Russia releases footage of loading RS-24 Yars missiles into launch silos.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that transporting and handling this 50-ton, 23-meter-long weapon required careful handling. After receiving blessings from a priest, the missile was gradually lowered into an underground silo 30 meters deep using a special device. This process took several hours.

"The process of lowering the missile into the underground silo is divided into several stages. First, the missile is loaded and then positioned vertically, followed by placing it in the correct position," said Major Kirill Golubev, commander of the SMF forces in Kozelsk.

According to the Commander of the SMF, General Sergei Karakayev, Moscow currently possesses up to 400 ICBMs. These missiles account for over 60% of the warheads and launch vehicles of Russia's nuclear triad.

This number of ICBMs indicates a significant imbalance in the military forces of Russia and the United States. The New START Treaty, signed by then-US President Obama and his Russian counterpart, then-President Medvedev, on April 8, 2010, reduced the number of nuclear warheads in each country to 1,500.

The number of deployed ICBMs and heavy strategic bombers is limited to 700. According to data released by the US State Department earlier this year, both sides have reached or are close to reaching the limit on the number of warheads specified.

The US has 741 deployed launch vehicles with 1,481 nuclear warheads, while Russia has 521 launch vehicles with 1,735 warheads. This difference is insignificant and does not affect the strategic balance.

Currently, Russia deploys fewer launch vehicles, but this is because ICBMs capable of carrying independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) have a wider range of applications – a single ICBM can carry up to 10 warheads.

Meanwhile, the only land-based ICBM still in service with the US military is the Minuteman 3. Each missile carries only one W87 warhead with an explosive yield of 300 kilotons (although it can carry up to three warheads).

The last missile was produced in 1978, meaning the "youngest" member of the Minuteman family is almost 40 years old. These missiles have undergone numerous upgrades and are expected to remain in service until 2030.

The US's new ICBM system – the GBSD (Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent) – appears to be facing a deadlock in negotiations. The US Air Force is proposing a $62.3 billion expenditure to develop and manufacture the new missiles and hopes to receive $113.9 million in 2017. However, the White House is not supporting this proposal.

Notably, the US government is planning to invest a massive amount of money in nuclear weapons: approximately $324 billion by 2024, but only $26 billion is allocated to ICBMs. $26 billion is insufficient for the GBDS program. The actual cost could be much higher, given that the US has not produced new land-based ICBMs for a considerable period.

The newest missile type – the LGM118A Peacekeeper – was deployed in 1986, but 50% of them had been retired by 2005. The LGM118A Peacekeeper can be considered an improvement over the Minuteman 3, as Peacekeeper missiles can carry up to 10 warheads.

Despite the failure of the START 3 Treaty, which prohibited the use of MIRV warheads, the US voluntarily abandoned these warheads.

For the US, ICBMs are no longer reliable and are too expensive. However, contrary to claims, the Pentagon is actively modernizing its ICBM fleet by seeking a replacement for the Minuteman 3.

According to Baodatviet