ICBM RS-24 Yars Successfully Test Fired from Plesetsk Cosmodrome

A test launch of the solid-propelled intercontinental ballistic missile RS-24 Yars has been carried out from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, spokesman for the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) Colonel Igor Yegorov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“On December 24, a RVSN combat crew carried out a test launch of the silo-based solid-propelled multiple-warhead ICBM RS-24 Yars from the Plesetsk state test launch facility at 11:00 Moscow time. The training warheads with the specified precision hit targets at the Kura range (Kamchatka Krai),” the official said.

“The main purpose of the launch was to test the efficiency, reliability, safety, flight and accuracy characteristics of the missile system under a realistic combat mission scenario,” Yegorov said. According to him, the Kozelsk Missile Division is planned to be equipped with this missile system in 2014.