A Russian ICBM launch in 2022 (Photo: Reuters).
Interfax news agency on December 16 quoted Sergei Karakayev, commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, as saying that the country plans to test-launch seven ICBMs in 2024. He did not provide further details of the plan.
Russia typically notifies the United States of ICBM launches at least 24 hours in advance, and Washington does the same when it plans to launch an ICBM. Russia and the United States are the two countries with the world's largest nuclear arsenals.
Last month, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its new nuclear submarine Emperor Alexander III had successfully launched a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile was launched from the White Sea, off the northern coast of Russia, and hit its target thousands of kilometers away on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East.
The 12-meter-long Bulava missile has an estimated range of 8,000 kilometers and can carry up to six nuclear warheads. This weapon is considered the "cornerstone" of the Russian Navy's nuclear triad.
The new ballistic missile launch comes as President Vladimir Putin says Russia will maintain its nuclear deterrent to counter growing security threats.
Earlier this week, Mr. Putin attended the launching ceremony of two nuclear submarines, the Kranoyarsk and the Emperor Alexander III, in the city of Severodvinsk.
At the ceremony, the Kremlin leader pledged to carry out the plan to modernize the Russian Navy. He also revealed that these two nuclear submarines will soon take up duty in the Pacific Ocean .
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