14 May 2004 21:14
Five strategic missiles "successfully" tested in Russia since December 2003
Moscow, 14 May: The Strategic Missile Troops (SMT) have carried out five successful test launches of intercontinental
ballistic missiles [ICBM] since 1 December 2003, the SMT press service has said, quoting the troops' commander,
Col-Gen Nikolay Solovtsov, during an expanded-format meeting of the SMT's military council that was held today to
sum up the winter training period which ended on 30 April.
The overall conclusion of the commander's report is that the Strategic Missile Troops "are combat-ready and
capable of resolving military tasks assigned to them under any conditions". General Solovtsov said that
"primary figures for planning the organizational development and progress of the SMT have been approved".
"The final decision has been made: the Missile Troops will be armed with both stationary and mobile land-based
missile systems," Solovtsov emphasized.
A test launch of an RS-18 ICBM (SS-19 Stiletto in Western classification terms) was carried out from Baykonur on 5
December 2003. A further two RS-18 ICBMs were launched from Baykonur and a Topol [ICBM] from Plesetsk as part of the
Security-2004 strategic command-and-staff exercises in February 2004. A Topol-M ICBM was launched from a mobile launcher
on 20 April. The launch was carried out to test its maximum range.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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