MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Serial production of Russia’s new RS-26 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), after the successful final test launch in mid-March, will start in late 2015 or early 2016, a source in the military-industrial complex told TASS on Wednesday.

"In the second half of this year, the missile will be put into service and its serial production will begin in the end of this year or in the beginning of the next year," the source said.

The RS-26 Rubezh missile based on the previous RS24 Yars is expected to be put on combat duty in 2015.

A source at the Russian General Staff told TASS earlier that the Irkutsk division of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces will become the first to receive the land-based mobile missile systems with RS-26. In prospect, they could replace the Topol systems.

This information has not been yet officially confirmed to TASS.