Russia tests nuclear Yars launchers near NATO border
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Friday, October 18, that it has begun exercises with RS-24 Yars launchers in the Tver region, approximately 90 miles from the NATO border, according to the Defense Romania portal. The army plans to conduct field missions for Russia's nuclear weapons.
"Strategic missile units will perform introductory missions, which include conducting intensive maneuvers on combat patrol routes," states the Russian ministry.
Nuclear Yars will cover 62 miles
The crews responsible for operating the Yars will move along a route up to 62 miles in length. During this exercise, soldiers will practice masking and machine protection tasks. Additionally, the crews will train to repel enemy air raids, reconnaissance groups, and diversions. The mission's main objective involving the Yars launchers is to assess the effectiveness of commanding a large combat unit and managing service operations. "The inspection committee will check, among other factors, the consistency of units' actions during task execution," the ministry states. It should be noted that these are ongoing exercises involving the Yars, which are taking place in 2024.
The deployment of Russian Yars nuclear launchers is part of Russia's nuclear deterrence strategy. However, sending the complexes out on patrol routes does not imply that the RS-24 Yars will be put into active combat service.
RS-24 Yars launchers
The RS-24 Yars is a significant component of Russia's nuclear triad, which includes capabilities for launching missiles from land, sea, and air. The nuclear triad is a military strategy that ensures Russia maintains its nuclear deterrent capabilities and flexibility in responding to potential threats. Only a few countries in the world, including the USA, China, and India, possess a full nuclear triad.
The RS-24 Yars missile measures 75 feet in length, including the warhead, and has a diameter of 6.2 feet. Its launch weight is 101,000 pounds. Thanks to the combination of inertial guidance and GLONASS, the accuracy of the RS-24 Yars missile is established at 820 feet CEP. The range of the RS-24 Yars is 6,835 miles, enabling it to reach almost any location worldwide. The launcher carrier is the MZKT-79221 vehicle, which can achieve speeds of up to 28 mph and cover up to 310 miles in a single trip.
