The missile, known to NATO as an SS-18 Satan, was launched at 11.30 am (8H30 GMT) and reached its target in the far eastern Kamtchatka peninsula some 6,000 kilometres (3,720 miles) away, Interfax reported.

"This launch confirmed the principal technical characteristics of the flight of the missile which represents a significant part of the combat potential of Russia's strategic forces," General Nikolai Solovtsov, the head of Russia's nuclear force, was quoted as saying.

It was the first test of that type of missile since 1991.

Russia's stocks of old Soviet-era missiles are expected to remain in service for the next 10 to 15 years, Itar-Tass reported.

President Vladimir Putin put the world on alert last month with an announcement that Russia has conducted tests on new nuclear systems, believed to include land-mobile missiles.

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