Russia test fires Topol ballistic missile near Astrakhan
The Russian Defense Ministry’s Strategic Missile Forces announced that a Topol RS-12M Intercontinental Ballistic Missile was successfully test fired on Wednesday. The warhead was launched from the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia and hit its designated target at the Sari-Shagon test range in Kazakhstan.
The RS-12M is Russia’s latest mobile intercontinental ballistic missile system. The 45,000 kilogram, 20 meter long rocket has a range of 10,500 kilometers (6,500 miles). The mobile system was showcased earlier this year during the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.
The test fire was part of the Defense Ministry’s “week of testing” which started on Monday at Kapustin Yar. A wide range of weapons are involved in test launches, including the S-300, S-400 and Osa air-defense missiles.
Kapustin Yar is the Russian Federation’s main rocket test and development site. The unique terrain in the region holds 29 separate launch pads, enabling the Defense Ministry to test weapons under a wide range of conditions. The site witnessed test launches of most of the Soviet Union’s arsenal throughout the Cold War, including the R-5 Pobeda and the RSD-10 Pioneer missiles.