Russia Tests Topol-M Inter-continental Ballistic Missile

Russia has fired an inter-continental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk space launching port at an hypotethical target.

"The missile's exercise head hit a hypothetical target at a firing range in the Kamchatka Peninsula with high degree of precision. The launch was geared to confirm the stability of flight characteristics of this type of intercontinental ballistic missile," the the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

The three-stage, solid-fuel, silo-based Topol-M missile and its mobile modification were developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering. Tests began in 1994. The missile's silo-based modification was put into service in 2000.

The missile's operational range is 11,000 kilometers, its launch weight is 46.5 tons, the throw weight is 1.2 tons, and it carries one warhead.

According to the document, the test launch was carried out to confirm combat capabilities and reliability of Topol-M ICBMs.

"The simulated warhead hit a designated target at a firing range on the Kamchatka peninsula with high precision," the ministry said in a press release.