MOSCOW, May 29, 2007
Russia: New Missiles Are Unstoppable
Official Claims Latest Version Of ICBM Can Penetrate Any Missile Defense System
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The new missile is seen as eventually replacing the aging RS-18s and RS-20s, seen above, that are the backbone of the country's missile forces (GETTY)
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"As of today Russia has new (missiles) that are capable of overcoming any existing or future missile defense systems," ITAR-Tass quoted First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov as saying. "So in terms of defense and security Russian can look calmly to the country's future."
Ivanov spoke after the Russian Strategic Missile Forces announced the test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple independent warheads. He said Russia had also successfully tested a tactical cruise missile.
"Reminiscent of the Cold War arm's race, the Russian missile launch appears to have been intended to send a message opposing the U.S. deployment of missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk from the United Nations.
President Vladimir Putin and Ivanov, a former defense minister seen as a potential candidate to succeed Putin in elections next year, have repeatedly said Russia would continue to improve its nuclear weapons systems and respond to U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe.
The ICBM, called the RS-24, was fired from a mobile launcher at the Plesetsk launch pad in northwestern Russia. Its test warhead landed on target some 3,400 miles away on the Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, a statement from the Strategic Missile Forces said.
The new missile is seen as eventually replacing the aging RS-18s and RS-20s that are the backbone of the country's missile forces, the statement said. Those missiles are known in the West as the SS-19 Stiletto and the SS-18 Satan.
Ivanov said the missile was a new version of the Topol-M, first known as the SS-27 in the West, but one that that can carry multiple independent warheads, ITAR-Tass reported.
The first Topol-Ms were commissioned in 1997, but deployment has proceeded slower than planned because of a shortage of funds. Existing Topol-M missiles are capable of hitting targets more than 6,000 miles away.
The RS-24 "strengthens the capability of the attack groups of the Strategic Missile Forces by surmounting anti-missile defense systems, at the same time strengthening the potential for nuclear deterrence," the statement said.
The statement did not specify how many warheads the missile can carry.
The new missile would likely be more capable of penetrating missile defense systems than previous models, said Alexander Pikayev, an arms control expert and senior analyst at the Moscow-based Institute for World Economy and International Relations.
He said Russia had been working on a version of the Topol-M that could carry multiple warheads, and that its development was probably "inevitable" after the U.S. withdrew from the Soviet-era Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty in 2002, preventing the START-II treaty from coming into force.
Pikayev concurred with the missile forces statement that the RS-24 conforms with terms laid down in the START-I treaty, which is in force, and the 2002 Moscow Treaty, which calls for reductions in each country's nuclear arsenal to 1,700-2,000 warheads.
Alexander Golts, a respected military analyst with the Yezhenedelny Zhurnal online publication, expressed surprise at the announcement.
"It seems to be a brand new missile. It's either a decoy or something that has been developed in complete secrecy," he told The Associated Press.
The test comes at a time of increased tension between Russia and the West over missiles and other weapons issues.
Russia adamantly opposes U.S. efforts to deploy elements of a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. The United States says the system is aimed at blocking possible attacks by countries such as North Korea and Iran, but Russia says the system would destroy the strategic balance of forces in Europe.
"We consider it harmful and dangerous to turn Europe into a powder keg," Putin said Tuesday, when asked at a news conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates about the controversy.
Russia, meanwhile, called Monday for an emergency conference next month on a key Soviet-era arms control treaty that has been a source of increasing friction between Moscow and NATO.
The call for a conference on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty follows last month's statement from Putin in which he declared a moratorium on observing Russia's obligations under the treaty.
The treaty, which limits the number of aircraft, tanks and other non-nuclear heavy weapons around Europe, was first signed in 1990 and then amended in 1999 to reflect changes since the Soviet breakup. Russia has ratified the amended version, but the United States and other NATO members have refused to do so until Moscow withdraws troops from the former Soviet republics of Moldova and Georgia — an issue Moscow says is unrelated.
Putin warned that Russia could dump the treaty altogether if Western nations refuse to ratify its amended version, and the Foreign Ministry said Monday that it lodged a formal request for a conference among treaty signatories in Vienna, Austria, on June 12-15.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 24 CommentsYeah their (Russian's) adventure in Afghanistan showed us!
Posted by ozilot at 09:58 PM : May 29, 2007
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The example you've given is an exact replica of what the U.S. is facing in Iraq.
No matter how big or powerful a military force may be, it is nearly impossible to fight against a determined insurgent force of freedom fighters.
(Freedom fighers in Iraq --- Otherwise known as "terrorists" in the U.S. Which goes to the old saying: "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.")
Posted by Scrat335 at 08:48 PM : May 29, 2007
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Scrat is correct. The Russian missile technology build up had only stopped temporarily after the break up of the Soviet Union. Russia has moved full steam ahead on military technology, esepcially with a tyrannical administration in the White House within the past 7 years. Also, Russia's main export, the stuff that keeps their economy going, has been military hardware to countries like China and Iran (two big U.S. adversaries).
We in the U.S. have much to fear. The sad thing is that I knew about these new missiles, (by reading foreign news sources), for almost two years before this story popped up in our main-stream media!!!
Our MSM sucks. Period.
The missile defence system in Europe is (as you stated) not effective against a first strike. What it is effective against, is a retaliatory strike.
That's what the Russians are afraid of, a first strike and not being able to inflict punishment in return.
The new coldwar is on. And it's going to cost dearly.
As for the quality of Russian military equipment of which I have seen up close and personal (all kinds from all eras) you would be foolish to judge the stuff by the standards set by the west with the wests information. The wars with Israel pitted what was essentially farmers with little education in machines they were hastily trained for against a US backed Israeli army. The Iraq war in the 90s was obsolete pooly maintained equipment against modern technically advanced devices with air supremecy too boot.
Make no mistake, the Russian army is no pushover, it never has been and it never will be. It is best to have them on your side, not on the other.
Thank you to the neo con republicans who can't move into the 21st century.
Morons one and all don't we have enough ways to destroy the world why do we keep building more ways to do it. If Russia just explodes all their wepons the world ends the same with China or the US. So someone please tell me what these morons are thinking.
Posted by tbweb at 06:51 PM : May 29, 2007
I agree tbweb, the announcement of this missile test is clearly aimed at an internal Russian audience. Putin and the ex-soviet hardliners are trying to create unity by playing on peoples' fears of the United States, which are largely unwarranted. Paranoia about a possible US attack takes the peoples' minds off the fact that their government is corrupt and systematically dismantling their democratic constitution.
Posted by Infidel_US at 04:43 PM : May 29, 2007"
Are you that daft and delude to only think in terms of childish 'arms race'?
The arms race is ALREADY WON by anyone who wants to strike first!
There are enough nukes on the planet to make 911 look like a 4th of july party. Anyone of many countries can use them. The arms race IS LONG OVER!
Thanks to wild warmongers, lunatic leaders, asinine administration, and a spineless congress without a clue:
THE ARMS RACE IS ON AGAIN!
The Russians or anyone else with nukes don't even need missiles to penetrate the moronic missile shield.
Just exploding nukes in the atmosphere would be good enough to ensure we all die of cancer, sooner than later anyway.
Instead of trying to find common ground with the other people of the planet, the bullies delude themselves that they can do whatever they bloody well wish.
Well, the lost leaders and the sleeping Americans will be in for a rude awakening 911-style!
The Russians must be doing thier own drugs, eh?
There isnt a missle in the world that can evade every missle defense system. Its a joke.
Sure they do. That's why Putin is foaming at the mouth over our proposed missile defense system. Russia hardly has two rubles to rub together.....they can't compete with us in a high tech arms race.
You libs need to stop whining and backstabbing your own freakin country....you traitors!
Sure they do. That's why Putin is foaming at the mouth over our proposed missile defense system. Russia hardly has two rubles to rub together.....they can't compete with us in a high tech arms race.
Sure they do. That's why Putin is foaming at the mouth over our proposed missile defense system. Russia hardly has two rubles to rub together.....they can't compete with us in a high tech arms race.
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