Russia in 2009 plans to field a new multiple-warhead ICBM as part of its effort to offset U.S. plans for missile defense installations in Europe, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 3).
The RS-24 “will increase the strategic missile forces' capability to penetrate missile defense systems, thus strengthening the nuclear deterrent potential of Russian strategic forces," SMF chief Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said in a prepared statement.
The missile is intended to replace ballistic missiles produced under the Soviet Union. It underwent two test-launches in 2007 and is set for another test by the end of 2008, Solovtsov said.
The Russian military also plans to install decoys on existing missiles as a further countermeasure against U.S. missile defenses.
The missile forces continue to test Soviet-era missiles on a regular basis to ensure they remain in functioning condition, AP reported. With limited funds for new weapons, the military emphasizes life-extension programs for its missiles (see GSN, Oct. 22).
“We are fully confident that the strategic missile forces will be capable of providing a guaranteed nuclear deterrent in the long time to come,” Solovtsov said.
Russian leaders characterized the U.S. missile shield program in Europe as a threat to their nation’s strategic security. They have said that nations that host the installations could be targeted by Russian missiles.
The Bush administration says its plan, which calls for deploying 10 missile interceptors in Poland and an early warning radar in the Czech Republic, is aimed at nations such as Iran and poses no threat to Russia (Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press/Google News, Oct. 22).
Meanwhile, Russian military exercises earlier this month included more than 30 strategic bombers, United Press International reported.
“A total of 40 sorties have been flown with an aggregate of 300 flying hours clocked” during the “Stability 2008” drills, said Maj. Gen. Pavel Androsov, head of Russia’s long-range aviation forces.
The Tupolev Tu-160 and Tu-95MS aircraft carried full weapons complements and fired their complete payloads of X-55 air-launched cruise missiles during flights from Oct. 6 to 12. Russian bombers had not conducted such cruise-missile firings since 1984, UPI reported.
Stability 2008 began Sept. 22 and ended Tuesday, according to RIA Novosti (see GSN, Oct. 14). It was intended to strengthen Russia’s deployment of its nuclear-armed and conventional forces (Martin Sieff, United Press International/Spacewar.com, Oct. 22).