Russia tests multiple-warhead missile

Russia test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile featuring multiple warheads that can be independently targeted.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said the missile was fired from a mobile launcher at 1420 Moscow time (2020 AEST) from the Plesetsk cosmodrome about 800 kilometres north of Moscow, Interfax news agency reported.

The RS-24 missile can be armed with up to 10 different warheads, the Defence Ministry told Interfax.

It said the new missile would replace earlier generation intercontinental missiles such as the RS-18 and RS-20.

Missiles carrying multiple independently targeted warheads are more difficult to intercept and destroy completely once they have been fired.

Russia has previously said US plans to build a system in Europe to intercept and shoot down hostile missiles are a threat to its own security. Washington says the system is intended to counter rogue states and does not threaten Russia.

The RIA-Novosti news agency cited an unnamed representative of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces as saying that the RS-24 conforms with terms laid down in the START-I treaty and the 2002 US-Russia treaty that calls for reducing each country's nuclear arsenal to 1,700-2,000 warheads.