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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russia test-fires ballistic missile |
| 2007-12-09 |
| MOSCOW - Russia on Saturday successfully test-fired an inter-continental ballistic and other weapons that are able to pierce anti-missile shields, Russia’s state news agency RIA said, citing a spokesman for rocket forces. The RS-12M Topol, called the SS-25 Sickle by NATO, was successfully launched at 17:43 p.m. (1443 GMT) from Kapustin Yar firing range in southern Russia, RIA said. ‘The launch was carried out with the aim of confirming the stability of the fundamental flying and technical characteristics of this class of missile,’ Rocket Forces spokesman Alexander Vovk told RIA. He also said the test was part of a trial of weapons that could pierce anti-missile shields. It was unclear what other weapons were tested. As configured in 1985, the Topol has a maximum range of 10,000 km (6,215 miles), and can carry one 550-kiloton nuclear warhead. The 20.5 metre (67 ft) long missile was designed in the 1970S and made its first flights in 1982. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 It means the Russians have demonstrated that they are still a potent threat and a power to be dealt with on an even (or near-even) basis with the west. Unlike the Frogs, who haven't test-launched a bird in many years. |
| Posted by: Kojo Cloque4172 2007-12-09 19:58 |
| #6 ION, WAFF.com > CHINA > CHINA HAS STARTED DEVELOPMENT OF ITS OWN STEALTH BOMBER. Can be launched from China and strike the USA wid LR 3000-km standoff ALCMS; + CHINA AND FUTURE WAR. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-12-09 18:39 |
| #5 The recent successful air-intercept by a US F16 will only add more fuel to the fire, espec as it increases the importance of forward GMD ground and air bases e.g. in EASTERN EURO [+ JAPAN-SK?]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-12-09 18:06 |
| #4 Like most everything else the Russians produce in media hype, it is overblown. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-12-09 08:59 |
| #3 If this system is anything like their anti aircraft systems, I'm sure it will be a dandy! |
| Posted by: badanov 2007-12-09 06:21 |
| #2 If the Russians want to waste their money on useless giant nukes, let them. You can tell by how many times they fire them, and how gleefully the press reports them, that they're really anxious to use one someday. |
| Posted by: gromky 2007-12-09 05:08 |
| #1 So what means does this behemoth use to pierce anti-missile shields? Juking past interceptors? A proximity fuse ought to solve that. |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-12-09 01:29 |