On September 26, 2017 the Strategic Rocket Forces conducted a successful launch of a Topol missile from Kapustin Yar to the Sary-Shagan test site. According to the official statement by the ministry of defense, the goal of the launch was "to test advanced combat payload" as part of the work on countering missile defense. The warhead (singular) was said to have successfully reached Sary-Shagan.

Previous launch of this type was conducted in December 2015, but a "new combat payload" was also tested in the launch from Plesetsk in September 2016.

The ministry of defense has a video of the launch. The missile was also seen from Astrakhan (warning: lot of stupid swearing), from Novoselitskoye in Stavropol Krai, and from Astrakhan again.