Russia plans to deploy its new medium-weight, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in 2014 to boost its military capability.
A military source told RIA Novosti: "According to the latest information, it will be accepted into service in 2014. The new weapon is part of a response programme to the US ballistic missile defence programme."
According to Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) commander Colonel-General Sergei Karakayev, a prototype of the new weapon was test-fired in October 2012 from the Kapustin Yar test range as a part of combined state trials.
Primarily based on mobile launchers, the missile will have a range of more than 5,500km and will be operational following the completion of successful trials.
"So far there has been no decision on whether to base them in silos," Karakayev added. The missile is scheduled to replace the SMF's existing inventory of 76 R-36M2 Voyevoda, which entered into operational service in 1988.
