Global Security Newswire

Russia plans before the close of 2012 to place roughly 100 advanced Topol-M and Yars ICBMs on active duty, the Xinhua News Agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying on Tuesday.

Following fielding of those missiles, "the share of modern weapons in the strategic missile forces will approach 30 percent," according to ministry spokesman Vadim Koval.

Topol-Ms have been delivered to two regiments of the Teikovo missile division, while two other regiments have been supplied with multiwarhead Yars missiles. That finishes the project to completely supply the central Russia division with more advanced missiles.

Yars missiles are being sent to divisions in the Novosibirsk, Kaluga and Saratov regions. The Saratov division is also to receive Topol-Ms this year, after which "the program of re-equipment of the strategic forces with the Topol-M will be completed," according to Koval.

The solid-fuel Topol-M can carry a nuclear warhead more than 6,200 miles, while the top flight distance of the Yars is more than 6,800 miles, Xinhua reported.