The Topol RS-12M missile was tested "to develop equipment for potential combat use against ground-based ballistic missiles," Alexander Vovk, a spokesman for the forces, was quoted as saying by Interfax.

"Experience shows the most economical and quickly achievable countermeasures against the development of a missile-defence system are so-called asymmetrical measures," he said.

Those measures include the missile being less detectable and its path less predictable, foiling missile-detection systems, he was quoted as saying.

The missile was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia and flew 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles) to hit a target on Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East, RIA Novosti reported.

Russia has been developing the missile in response to US plans to develop a missile-defence shield using ground-based interceptors.

Washington has signed agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic to site elements of its shield in the two Eastern European countries, a plan that has angered Moscow.

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