Russia mobilizes yars missile launchers for strategic drills
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that autonomous RS-24 Yars missile launchers were sent from Novosibirsk for maneuvers. According to Defense Romania, which cites Russian sources, the weapons are set to carry out patrol and preparatory missions in case of conflict.
As reported, the deployment of Russian nuclear Yars launchers is part of Russia's nuclear deterrence strategy. However, sending the systems on patrol routes does not mean that the RS-24 will be put into active combat service.
Russian nuclear launchers on patrol
Patrolling, which is the task now entrusted to the Russian launchers, is usually a stage that may precede combat use, but – according to Defense Romania – reports from Ukrainian experts suggest the probability of the Russians using the Yars complex is zero. Military expert Oleg Zhdanov explained to Focus.ua that the Russian Federation is most likely conducting regular training, checking combat capabilities, or changing combat assignments.
Let us recall that the RS-24 Yars is a strategic Russian ballistic missile that plays a key role in the nuclear arsenal of the Russian Federation. It replaced outdated missiles and brought entirely new capabilities to intercontinental military operations.
The Yars is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that uses solid fuel propulsion. It can carry up to six MIRV nuclear warheads, each with a yield of up to 300 kilotons. The range of the RS-24 Yars is 10,900 kilometres, which allows it to reach virtually any place in the world. The missiles are carried by MZKT-79221 vehicles, which can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h and can cover up to 500 kilometres in one go.
The RS-24 complex is a significant component of the Russian armed forces, as it is part of their nuclear triad, which includes the capability to launch missiles from land, sea, and air. Only a few countries in the world, including the USA, China, and India, have a complete nuclear triad. This strategy allows Russia to maintain nuclear deterrence capabilities and flexibility in responding to potential threats.
