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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russia to launch 2 ICBMs this week |
| 2004-12-20 |
| Just in time for Christmas. Edited for brevity. This week the Strategic Missile Forces are going to launch two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), the SMF press service said. According to the press service, Russian Missile Forces Commander Nikolai Solovtsov will preside over both launches. The missile division deployed in the Orenburg region, which launched a missile for the last time in 1991, will launch a combat-training version of the RS-20V Voyevoda (NATO codename SS 18 Satan). This week we'll call it "Satan Claus". "This Voyevoda launch will be the first in a series of planned events. It will also be another step in fulfilling the President's task of making as much use as possible of the technological potential of missile systems by extending their service life beyond the producer warranty life," the Strategic Missile Force spokesman said. The combat training launch will not be the only one this week, as the Topol M, a fifth-generation ICBM, will be launched at Plesetsk Space Center from a state-of-the-art mobile launcher. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref are expected to attend the launch at the space center. |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #6 Wonder if we gave them iPods, would they give up the missiles? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-12-20 9:40:35 PM |
| #5 "Fore!..." |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-12-20 9:19:13 PM |
| #4 "... by extending their service life beyond the producer warranty life ..." All downwind: you've been warned. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2004-12-20 2:29:58 PM |
| #3 Odds they even clear the launchers? Explode on the pad? Fall straight back down? |
| Posted by: AllahHateMe 2004-12-20 2:07:26 PM |
| #2 Soviets gave warranties? Who knew? |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-12-20 1:54:31 PM |
| #1 Clear out the women and children. The Russian Navy's last live launches were... less than satisfactory. Think Putin will be onhand for these? |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2004-12-20 1:35:01 PM |