MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia's Strategic Missile Forces started large-scale preparations to test the Sarmat's maximal range capabilities, the newspaper reported, citing former Chief of Staff of Strategic Missile Forces, Col.Gen. Viktor Esin.
The advanced ICBM will become operational in 2018 and will replace the RS-20 Voyevoda series of ballistic missiles, the newspaper added.
The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with an operational range of no less than 5,500 kilometers, is part of the government plan to modernize the country's nuclear forces by 2020.
