The RS-24 Yars is a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile. It is an improved version of the previous Topol-M. It uses the same 16x16 wheeled chassis as the Topol-M. Externally it looks similar. However it carries an improved missile, that is heavier. The Yars was developed both as a road-mobile and silo-based system, that would use the same missile. It was first tested in 2007 and was adopted by the Russian Strategic Missile Forces in 2010. Its production commenced during the same year. It replaced in production the previous Topol-M. As of 2016 Russian Strategic Missile Forces deployed 63 mobile and 10 silo-based Yars ICBMs. These were fielded alongside the Topol-M systems on a 50/50 basis. It is planned that the Yars will become the mainstay of the ground-based component of the Russian nuclear triad.
