Journalists and future cadets were shown a Topol-M launcher right after entry exams to the Academy of Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF). Watch a RIA Novosti video, showing the preparation of the ballistic missile for launch.
The Topol-M missile, with a range of about 7,000 miles (11,000 km), is said to be immune to any current and planned U.S. anti-ballistic missile defense. It is capable of making evasive maneuvers to avoid a kill using terminal phase interceptors, and carries targeting countermeasures and decoys.
The SMF are likely to be equipped with over 170 Topol-Ms (mobile and silo-based) by 2020.
