RS-24 Yars

RS-24 Yars. It is a modern Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system that forms a critical component of the country's strategic nuclear deterrent. Developed as a successor to older systems, it is designed to penetrate advanced missile defense networks. The missile is operated exclusively by the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces and represents a key element in Russia's post-Cold War nuclear modernization efforts.

Development and deployment

The development of the system was initiated by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT) in the early 2000s, following the perceived limitations of the preceding RT-2PM2 Topol-M. The project aimed to create a missile capable of carrying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) to ensure a credible retaliatory strike capability. The first successful test launch was conducted from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in 2007, with state acceptance trials concluding successfully. Serial production was subsequently assigned to the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant. Initial deployment with the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces began in 2010, with the first regiment achieving operational status in the Teykovo division. Further deployments have followed in Novosibirsk, Nizhny Tagil, and Kozelsk, replacing aging Soviet-era missiles like the UR-100N.

Design and specifications

The missile is a three-stage, solid-propellant ICBM, significantly evolved from the RT-2PM2 Topol-M design. Its primary advancement is the deployment of a MIRVed warhead section, typically reported to carry between three to four thermonuclear reentry vehicles, though exact numbers are classified. The warheads are housed within a post-boost vehicle equipped with countermeasures and decoys to defeat anti-ballistic missile systems. Guidance is provided by a sophisticated inertial navigation system reportedly updated with data from the Russian GLONASS satellite network, enhancing accuracy. The system is deployed in both silo-based and road-mobile configurations, with the latter utilizing the heavy MZKT-79221 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicle, offering high survivability through mobility.

Operational history

Since entering service, the system has been a regular feature in Russian strategic exercises and public displays of military power. It is frequently launched during major drills conducted by the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces, such as those commanded by high-ranking officials like Sergei Shoigu. The missiles have been test-fired from both Plesetsk Cosmodrome and the Kapustin Yar range, with warheads impacting on the Kura Test Range on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Units equipped with the system regularly participate in the Victory Day Parade on Red Square, showcasing Russia's strategic modernization. In 2022, as part of a large-scale exercise, a salvo launch of missiles was conducted, demonstrating a coordinated retaliatory strike capability.

Strategic role and capabilities

The system serves as a central pillar of Russia's nuclear triad, intended to guarantee a second-strike capability under any conflict scenario. Its MIRVed payload allows a single missile to engage multiple hardened targets, such as U.S. Minuteman III silo fields or major command centers, thereby complicating an adversary's first strike calculus. The combination of road-mobile launchers and advanced penetration aids is specifically designed to counter developments like the American Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system. This capability reinforces Russia's stated nuclear doctrine, which reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack that threatens the state's existence. The deployment of these missiles is a direct response to NATO expansion and the abrogation of treaties like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Variants

The system has evolved into several distinct variants to fulfill different basing modes and modernization requirements. The initial mobile version is launched from the MZKT-79221 TEL. A silo-based variant was subsequently developed and deployed, beginning with the Kozelsk missile division, offering enhanced protection and quicker launch readiness. A further modernized version, sometimes referred to in Western reports as **RS-24 Yars-S**, incorporates improved manufacturing technologies, electronic components, and possibly enhanced countermeasures. The most significant development is the **RS-28 Sarmat**, a new heavy liquid-fueled ICBM, which is intended to eventually replace older heavy missiles like the R-36M2 Voevoda, not the RS-24, in Russia's strategic arsenal.

Category:Intercontinental ballistic missiles of Russia Category:Cold War weapons Category:Nuclear weapons of Russia