Every December 17, Russia marks Strategic Missile Force Day. The Strategic Missile Force is one of the main service arms of the Russian Armed Forces and the principal component of its strategic nuclear forces.
Every December 17, Russia marks Strategic Missile Force Day. The Strategic Missile Force is one of the main service arms of the Russian Armed Forces and the principal component of its strategic nuclear forces.
Every December 17, Russia marks Strategic Missile Force Day. The Strategic Missile Force is one of the main service arms of the Russian Armed Forces and the principal component of its strategic nuclear forces.
The Museum of the Strategic Missile Force.
First-generation ballistic missiles on display at the Museum of the Peter the Great Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Force.
First-generation ballistic missiles on display at the Museum of the Peter the Great Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Force.
Colonel General Sergei Karakayev, Commander of the Strategic Missile Force, says Soviet-era ballistic missiles will remain in service until 2021 at least. Photo: Preparing to launch an RS-18 (UR-100N UTTKH) SS-19/Stiletto intercontinental ballistic missile from the Baikonur Space Center.
The R-36 Voyevoda/SS-18 Satan is among most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles in the world and one of the best-known. These missiles either carry single warheads or multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles with a yield of one megaton TNT each. Photo: The launcher of an RS-20 Voyevoda missile.
A Topol/SS-25 Sickle intercontinental ballistic missile system drives through Red Square during a Victory Day parade.
An RT-2PM Topol/SS-25 Sickle intercontinental ballistic missile system at the Museum of the Strategic Missile Force.
As of 2012, the new Topol-M/SS-27 Sickle B and RS-24 Yars/SS-29 missiles made up a third of all Russian intercontinental ballistic missile systems, official Strategic Missile Force sources said. Photo: An RS-24 Yars/SS-29 land-mobile missile system.
Although data on the RS-24 Yars/SS-29 missile remains classified, open sources say this missile is equipped with multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles, with a range up to 11,000 kilometers (6,600 miles). Its developers claim no missile defense system in existence can stop the Yars hitting its target.
