Russia to deploy more new ballistic missiles - IFAX
Pastor Dale Morgan
Russia to deploy more new ballistic missiles - IFAX*
By Reuters
September 3, 04:35 PM
By Amie Ferris-Rotman
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will carry out a second deployment of new
intercontinental ballistic missiles in December as part of President
Vladimir Putin's programme to modernise nuclear defences, local media
reported on Saturday.
The deployments come at a time of strained relations between Russia and
NATO over U.S. plans for a missile defence shield in eastern Europe.
Moscow argues this would threaten its security while Washington insists
it is designed only to defend against attack by what it sees as 'rogue
nations', such as Iran.
The Topol-M mobile missile, part of a new generation of weapon the
Kremlin says will assure Russia's security for the next 20-30 years,
will be deployed in the city of Teikovo about 240 Km northeast of Moscow.
The first echelon was deployed in December 2006, when Putin climbed
aboard a missile launcher on Russian television to show off the
country's new programme. No details have been given for the number of
missiles.
"We are absolutely confident this division will be put on combat duty in
December," Russian news agency Interfax quoted the commander of Russia's
rocket forces Nikolai Solovtsov as saying.
The 22-metre Topol-M is an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a
single warhead. It was first developed during the 1990s after the
collapse of the Soviet Union and was later upgraded. It can be launched
either from silos or from mobile launchers which can be camouflaged and
hidden in forests.
POST-SOVIET DECLINE
Along with the multiple-warhead RS-24, to be deployed in the next few
years, it will form the backbone of Russia's nuclear armoury and help
bolster armed forces eroded over years of post-Soviet decline.
The rebuilding of Moscow's military also reflects a more assertive
diplomatic approach, both towards the West and the states of its former,
Cold War sphere of influence.
Russian officials have said a U.S. decision to withdraw from the
Soviet-era Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty and create its European-based
shield has sped the development and introduction of the RS-24.
The United States insists the shield is necessary to guard against
missiles which could fire nuclear, chemical or biological warheads in
its direction.
Russia's military chief recently told the Czech Republic they were
making a "big mistake" by hosting the shield.