The Russian "nuclear train" is being revived from the Soviet era, part of a rail-based missile system deployed into three Russian regions.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told Russian news outlet Pravda that the Barguzin railway-based missile system, along with a separate 100-ton ballistic missile, are "on the level of absolute readiness of the industry for their implementation, should the relevant decision be made to include the projects in the state armament program."
Pravda said the Soviet Union's Strategic Missile Forces operated three divisions of "Molodets" rail-based missile systems, complexes that were deployed in the Kostroma, Perm and Krasnoyarsk regions.
There are 12 "nuclear trains," also called "ghost trains," in all, which could carry three missiles each and were put into service just before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1987, according to Pravda. The trains were decommissioned in 2003-2005, but missiles tests for the system took place last year, Pravda noted.
"The Barguzin railroad 'ghost trains' can travel 1,500 miles in a day and will be disguised as ordinary passenger or freight trains, making them virtually impossible to identify," noted Phoebe Weston, of London's Daily Mail.
"The missiles are normally launched from the road, but the nuke trains mean they will be able to travel further in much less time. The 'undetectable' deadly trains will be poised to strike at a moment's notice on the dawn of World War 3," Weston added.
The announcement of the train came while Pravda also talked about the 100-ton ballistic missile, dubbed "Satan 2." Russia's Ministry of Defense delayed the test of the huge missile, formally named the RS-28 Sarmat ballistic missile, Pravda said.
It is expected to replace the RS-18 Voevoda missile and to be put into service in 2019-2020, noted Pravda. The missile reportedly carries hypersonic blocks, allowing it to supposedly break through any missile defenses.
Gizmodo reported that the Russian publication Sputnik reported last October that RS-28 Sarmat reportedly has a payload powerful enough to destroy an area the size of Texas.
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