Russia's military expects next year to field a sixth regiment equipped with fixed-site Topol-M missiles, the Xinhua News Agency reported today (see GSN, Sept. 24).
The head of the strategic missile forces also reaffirmed his intention to arm a second regiment with mobile Topol-M missiles before the year is over, according to Russian media.
"We will finish the rearmament of the second missile regiment in the Teikovo division, based in Ivanovo region, with mobile Topol-M systems," said Lt. Gen. Andrei Shvaichenko.
The nuclear-capable missile has a range of up to 6,800 miles and is claimed to be able to defeat any present or coming U.S. missile defense systems. Russia's initial Topol-M mobile missile unit is deployed northeast of Moscow.
Shvaichenko said also that Russia was working to keep its RS-18 missiles in service for 31 years and to prlong the lives of the RS-20V and RS-12M Topol missiles to 23 years (Xinhua News Agency, Nov. 19).