Russia to deploy RS-24 ICBMs by year's end

MOSCOW, May 7 (UPI) -- Russia will put new thermonuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles into service and conduct at least 14 missile tests, a military commander said Thursday.

"We plan to put the first regiment of mobile (RS-24) missile systems equipped with multiple re-entry vehicle warheads into service by the end of this year," Strategic Missile Forces commander Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

The RS-24 can carry a collection of nuclear weapons on a single missile, so it can strike several targets or fewer targets redundantly.

First tested May 29, 2007, it is replacing older SS-18 and SS-19 missiles by 2050, the RIA Novosti said.

It is also believed to replace R-36 missiles, designed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and UR-100N, given the NATO reporting name SS-19 Stiletto.

RS-24 is heavier than Russia's RT-2UTTKh Topol M, created in response to the missile shield Washington has said it wants to deploy in Europe, U.S. military officials say.

Solovtsov also said the Strategic Missile Forces would conduct at least 14 missile test launches, including space launches, by year's end.

"We are planning 14 launches for various purposes, including the testing of missile components and warheads, the extension of missiles' service life and space launches," he said.

Washington had no immediate comment.