YASNY, Orenburg Region. Dec 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The RS-20 Voyevoda heavy ICBM will remain in service with the Strategic Missile Forces for over a decade, Colonel General Nikolai Solovtsov, Strategic Missile Forces commander, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Today's launch has proved a high combat readiness and reliability of nuclear missiles, developed in the 1980s. The missile launched has been in the inventory for over 16 years. This launch has extended the service life of missiles of this type. I believe that the missile will remain in service with the Strategic Missile Forces for another 10-12 years," Solovtsov said, commenting on the RS-20 test launch in the Orenburg region, carried out on Wednesday. The missile successfully destroyed a simulated target at a firing range in Kamchatka, having spanned over 6,000 km.
The Voyevoda launch is a crucial event for the state, the Armed Forces, and the Strategic Missile Forces, Solovtsov said.
"We take pride in the launch. The world's most powerful missile ever was launched successfully," he said.
According to him, the launch has demonstrated to the whole world that the Strategic Missile Forces are combat-ready and capable of fulfilling a presidential order in any environment.
According to open sources, RS-20 is a heavy liquid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile that can carry several types of warheads. It is used to hit poorly protected targets and area targets, for which it may be fitted with splitting warheads with combat sections guided individually that ensure aimed engagement of several targets. Its maximal range is 11,000 km.