“Ten firings of intercontinental missiles are programmed
for 2011 – three firings of missiles RS-12M Topol,
four firings of RS-18 and three firings of RS-24 Iars”,
indicated the spokesperson.
In 2010, the Russian Troops of strategic ballistic missile
fired five intercontinental missiles - a RS-20V Voevoda,
two RS-20B Dnepr and twoRS-12M Topol. They are training
and shootings tests for checking operationally and performances
of the missiles and to prolong their duration of exploitation.
Missile RS-12M Topol (code NATO: SS-25 Sickle) has a
range of more than 10.000 km, a weight on takeoff of 45,1
t and is armed with a nuclear warhead of 550 kt. With
a great manoeuvrability, discrete and easy to deploy,
there exists in mobile and stationary versions.
Missile RS-18 (code NATO: SS-19 Stiletto) has been in
service for 33 years. The duration of exploitation of
strategic missiles RS-20V and RS-12M Topol is respectively
of 23 and 24 years compared with the 10 to 15 years initially
envisaged.
The RS-24 (code NATO SS-X-29) is a solid propellant missile
with three floors. The first test firing of RS-24 was
proceeded in May 2007 since the site of Plessetsk. Its
performances were not revealed until now.
