A new intercontinental ballistic missile loaded into a silo launcher at a Russian base is capable of reaching the UK within seven minutes. The RS-24 Yars was moved into position at Kozelsk in the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow on Sunday (December 17), according to The Kremlin.
Measuring 23 metres in length, the "Doomsday" missile carries Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs) - which allow it to fire multiple nuclear warheads at different targets.
It is capable of hitting targets within 150 metres of accuracy and can travel in excess of Mach 2, reaching speeds of 16,700mph. With a distance of roughly 1,791 miles between London and Russia's Kozelsk base, the missile could reach the capital in under seven minutes.
The RS-24 Yars missile, which weighs 49,000kg, was first tested in May 2007 in response to US plans for a "missile shield" in Europe.
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