RS-24 Yars ICBM: Russia’s Ultimate Nuclear Deterrent

The RS-24 Yars, also known as the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, is one of the most advanced ICBMs in Russia’s strategic arsenal. Developed to enhance nuclear deterrence in a post-Cold War landscape, the RS-24 Yars missile brings together mobility, multi-warhead capacity, and high survivability against missile defense systems. Entering service in 2010, it has since become the backbone of Russia’s strategic missile forces, capable of being launched from both silos and road-mobile platforms.

What makes the RS-24 missile especially significant is its use of MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) technology, which allows a single launch to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to separate targets. The RS-24 Yars accuracy, paired with modern guidance systems, ensures a high likelihood of penetrating enemy defenses, even in a nuclear conflict scenario.

In recent months, headlines have once again brought the RS-24 Yars launch into focus. Ukrainian intelligence reports from May 2025 indicated Russia’s intention to conduct a training and combat launch of the missile, though the launch reportedly failed or was aborted. Whether due to technical failure or strategic restraint, the episode highlights the geopolitical weight the Yars missile carries—not just as a weapon, but as a tool of political messaging.

In this post, we’ll explore the RS-24 Yars warhead, specs, cost, operational role, and why it’s considered a game-changer in modern warfare.

Technical Specifications of the RS-24 Yars Missile

The RS-24 Yars missile is a product of decades of strategic missile development by the Russian Federation, designed to modernize its nuclear deterrent and outpace evolving missile defense systems.

Officially designated as the RS-24 Yars ICBM, this solid-fueled, three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile represents an evolution of the earlier Topol-M platform, with a key difference—MIRV capability. Unlike its single-warhead predecessor, the Yars carries multiple independently targetable warheads, increasing both its lethality and survivability against interception.

The RS-24 missile stands approximately 22.5 meters tall with a diameter of around 2 meters and a total launch weight close to 49,600 kilograms. It uses a three-stage solid-propellant engine system, enabling a swift launch profile and reduced reaction time.

This configuration also simplifies storage, maintenance, and deployment, especially from road-mobile platforms, compared to older liquid-fueled systems. Its operational range spans roughly 11,000 to 12,000 kilometers, allowing it to strike targets virtually anywhere on Earth. In terms of RS-24 Yars speed, the missile reaches hypersonic velocities exceeding Mach 20 during reentry, making it nearly impossible for current missile defense systems to intercept.

One of the most lethal features of the Yars ICBM is its warhead payload. The missile can carry between 3 and 4 MIRV nuclear warheads, each with an estimated yield of 150 to 200 kilotons—comparable to roughly ten times the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

The RS-24 Yars accuracy is bolstered by its advanced inertial navigation system supported by Russia’s GLONASS satellite network, providing a circular error probable (CEP) of just 100–150 meters. This level of precision, combined with multiple warheads, allows the RS-24 Yars to neutralize both hardened and dispersed targets, ensuring strategic effectiveness even under hostile conditions.

While exact figures are classified, defense analysts estimate the RS-24 Yars cost to range from $50 million to $70 million per unit, reflecting the high-end technology and deterrence value embedded in each missile.

Deployment and Operational History

Since entering service in 2010, the RS-24 Yars missile has steadily become a core component of Russia’s nuclear triad, replacing the aging Topol systems and reinforcing the country’s second-strike capability.

Developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology and produced by the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, the RS-24 Yars ICBM was officially introduced to counter NATO missile defense advancements. By equipping the missile with multiple warheads and improving its guidance systems, the Kremlin aimed to maintain strategic balance amid the increasingly complex global security environment.

The Yars missile is deployed in two main configurations: silo-based and mobile. The silo-launched version offers hardened protection and faster launch readiness, while the mobile version—mounted on a massive 16-wheeled Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL)—is designed for survivability and concealment.

This road-mobile RS-24 Yars variant gives Russia the flexibility to disperse its nuclear forces across large territories, complicating any potential preemptive strike plans by adversaries. As of 2024, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces reportedly operate over 150 deployed RS-24 Yars missiles, making it one of the largest active ICBM fleets using MIRV technology.

Read also: Oreshnik Missile: Russia’s Next-Generation Hypersonic Weapon

A notable event surrounding the missile’s recent history occurred in May 2025, when Ukrainian military intelligence reported that Russia was preparing a RS-24 Yars launch from the Sverdlovsk region as part of a “training and combat” exercise.

The launch, likely intended as a geopolitical signal amidst heightened tensions over Ukraine, failed to materialize. Satellite imagery and regional monitoring detected no missile activity, leading analysts to speculate on a possible technical malfunction or a deliberate cancellation. Despite the aborted test, the incident reaffirmed the strategic relevance of the RS-24 Yars, serving as a reminder of its symbolic and military weight on the global stage.

Warhead and Payload Capabilities

One of the defining features of the RS-24 Yars missile is its advanced payload configuration, specifically its ability to carry Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs). Each RS-24 Yars warhead is designed to strike separate targets, allowing a single missile to destroy multiple high-value or hardened locations in a single strike.

Depending on configuration, the RS-24 Yars ICBM can carry between three to four MIRV warheads, each with a yield estimated at 150 to 200 kilotons. This places it firmly in the upper tier of global nuclear delivery systems, capable of leveling entire cities or eliminating hardened military infrastructure.

These warheads are equipped with countermeasures such as decoys, penetration aids, and advanced maneuvering capabilities during reentry, making interception by missile defense systems extremely difficult. Combined with the missile’s high speed—reportedly exceeding Mach 20—and a low radar cross-section, the RS-24 Yars warhead delivery system is optimized for survivability and effectiveness in real-world conflict scenarios.

Another factor enhancing the destructive potential of the RS-24 missile is its flexibility. Russia can configure the Yars to deliver fewer warheads with heavier yields or more warheads with lighter yields, depending on strategic needs.

This adaptability, combined with its mobile launch capability, makes the Yars ICBM an unpredictable and versatile component of Russia’s nuclear forces. From targeting major urban centers to crippling hardened military bases, the Yars missile gives the Kremlin a broad range of strike options—all within one missile launch.

Launch Platforms and Mobility

The RS-24 Yars missile is designed with deployment flexibility in mind, allowing it to be launched from both silo-based and mobile platforms. This dual-platform capability enhances its strategic value by increasing survivability and reducing the chances of being destroyed in a first strike.

The silo-based RS-24 Yars systems are housed in hardened underground facilities, offering strong protection and fast readiness. These silos are often located deep within Russia’s interior, far from potential adversary strike zones, adding a geographic buffer to their security.

However, it’s the road-mobile RS-24 Yars that truly showcases Russia’s innovation in nuclear force mobility. These missiles are mounted on massive 16×16 wheeled Transporter Erector Launchers (TELs), capable of traversing vast stretches of rough terrain.

This mobility allows the Yars ICBM to disappear into Russia’s vast landscapes, constantly changing position and complicating enemy surveillance. A mobile RS-24 Yars launch can be conducted in a matter of minutes once on alert, making it a formidable second-strike platform that’s nearly impossible to preemptively neutralize.

In military doctrine, such mobility adds an element of uncertainty for potential adversaries. The Yars ballistic missile units regularly conduct drills across remote forested and mountainous areas of Siberia and the Urals, often involving camouflage, decoy deployment, and electronic warfare support.

These exercises not only test the readiness of missile crews but also serve as geopolitical messaging. With mobile systems accounting for a significant portion of Russia’s active ICBM arsenal, the RS-24 Yars adds depth, flexibility, and resilience to the country’s nuclear posture in a way that few missile systems worldwide can rival.

RS-24 Yars vs. Other ICBMs

When comparing the RS-24 Yars missile to other intercontinental ballistic missiles around the world, it becomes clear that Russia has built a system that holds its own against even the most advanced counterparts.

The Yars ICBM shares many similarities with the U.S. LGM-30G Minuteman III in terms of range and launch readiness, but differs in key areas like mobility and payload. While the Minuteman is silo-based and limited to a single warhead under current U.S. policy, the RS-24 Yars warhead configuration includes MIRVs, allowing it to strike multiple targets in one launch. This gives the Yars a significant edge in saturation capability.

Against newer systems like China’s DF-41, which also uses road-mobile launchers and MIRV technology, the RS-24 Yars ICBM remains competitive in terms of speed, range, and targeting precision. The RS-24 Yars range is estimated at 11,000–12,000 kilometers, which is slightly lower than the DF-41’s estimated 15,000 km, but still covers all potential NATO and allied targets.

Additionally, the Yars’ advanced decoys and countermeasures make it particularly difficult to intercept, further narrowing the gap between it and next-gen ICBMs like the Chinese system or the in-development U.S. Sentinel missile.

In terms of cost-efficiency, the RS-24 Yars price is reportedly around $50–$70 million per unit, which is lower than many Western missile programs due to Russia’s ability to leverage domestic manufacturing and simpler logistics. While the U.S. and its allies invest heavily in layered missile defense systems, the Yars is built to defeat them through speed, maneuverability, and deception.

Ultimately, while it may not represent a revolutionary leap like Russia’s hypersonic Avangard or Poseidon systems, the RS-24 Yars missile is a mature, reliable, and strategically dangerous platform that remains central to Moscow’s deterrent strategy.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The RS-24 Yars missile stands as a critical pillar of Russia’s modern strategic nuclear forces, combining advanced technology, mobility, and survivability to maintain a credible deterrent against any potential adversary. With its multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, long range, and impressive accuracy, the RS-24 Yars ICBM represents a significant upgrade over earlier missile systems, ensuring that Russia’s nuclear triad remains formidable well into the 21st century. Its blend of silo and road-mobile launch platforms further enhances its ability to evade detection and survive first-strike scenarios, keeping the balance of power in a tense global environment.

Looking ahead, the RS-24 Yars missile will likely continue to evolve with incremental improvements in guidance systems, countermeasures, and possibly the integration of new hypersonic technologies. As geopolitical tensions persist and global powers invest in missile defense, the Yars program serves as a clear message that Russia intends to maintain a robust and flexible nuclear deterrent. While diplomatic efforts around arms control face challenges, the RS-24 Yars will remain a key element of Moscow’s defense strategy, ensuring the country’s ability to project power and influence on the global stage.

In sum, the RS-24 Yars is more than just a missile — it is a symbol of Russia’s strategic resolve and technological prowess. Its ongoing deployment, modernization, and operational readiness underscore the critical role it plays in international security dynamics. For analysts, policymakers, and military planners alike, understanding the capabilities and implications of the RS-24 Yars ICBM is essential for grasping the future trajectory of nuclear deterrence and strategic stability in the 21st century.