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Source: Cutting-edge ballistic missile to be fielded with Russian missile force in 2016

The first regiment is to enter combat duty as part of the Strategic Missile Force division in Irkutsk next year
RS-24 Yars ballistic missile TASS/Vladimir Smirnov
RS-24 Yars ballistic missile
© TASS/Vladimir Smirnov

MOSCOW, September 16. /TASS/. An advanced solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile derived from the RS-24 Yars (NATO reporting name SS-27 Mod. 2) and designated tentatively as RS-26 will be fielded with the Irkutsk-based Guards division in 2016, a source in Russian’s defense industry told TASS on Wednesday.

"Its full-rate production is to be launched later in the year, and the first regiment is to enter combat duty as part of the Strategic Missile Force division in Irkutsk next year," the source said.

As was reported in the press, the RS-26 will enter the Irkutsk Guards division’s inventory in 2015. However, its service entry had to be postponed due to several of its tests having been put off.

The RS-26 missile, also known as Rubezh, is an RS-24 Yars derivative. It is supposed to be lighter than the Yars, but carry improved equipment and a multiple individually targeted re-entry vehicle. Only mobile launchers will fire off missiles like that, since no provision has been made for a silo-based version.