Russian ICBM: two versions

Ver. 1
ICBM launched from Barents Sea hits target in Kamchatka - official

MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax-AVN) - The Tula nuclear submarine of the Russian Northern Fleet commanded by Captain First Rank Anatoly Kovalenko launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday from the Barents Sea to the Kura test site in Kamchatka, Russian Navy Spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo told Interfax-AVN. "The ICBM was launched from the underwater position under a plan to check the readiness of naval strategic nuclear forces," the spokesman said. "The reentry vehicle arrived at the test site at the designated time," Dygalo said. Russian Navy Commander Vladimir Vysotsky hailed the high professionalism of the commander and the crew of the submarine, the spokesman said.

Ver. 2
New RS-24 ICBM lands on target at test range in Kamchatka

MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax-AVN) - A new RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV), which was launched from the Plesetsk space center in the Arkhangelsk region on Tuesday, has successfully hit all hypothetical targets at the Kura Test Range on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN) told Interfax. "Experimental warheads arrived at a planned area at the Kura range on Kamchatka Peninsula after flying about 7,000 kilometers. The launch purposes have been accomplished in full," RVSN spokesman Col. Alexander Vovk said. The launch was carried out as part of program of trials for the new ICBM. The first test launch of a prototype of the new MIRV-equipped RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile took place at the Plesetsk space center on May 29, 2007. According to unofficial information, an RS-24 missile can carry more than three warheads.
Image: China Daily.