Russia’s New ICBM To Carry 5-Ton Warhead

Russia’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile will be capable of carrying a 5-ton warhead, much larger than its predecessors. The new ICBM payload will be four times bigger than the Yars missile and will have a greater capability for missile defense penetration. Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) chief, Col. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, said that Russia will build a new ICBM by 2018 to replace the R-36M2 Voyevoda (NATO reporting name SS-18 Satan) missile. He added, “The new ICBM will have a launch mass of around 100 tons with a better payload-launch weight ratio than in a solid fuel missile”. The Russian Defense Ministry continues to develop its missile program as the United States persists on its plans to create a missile defense system in Europe.