08:54 GMT, November 27, 2008 Russia yesterday successfully test launched for the third time the RS-24 new-generation intercontinental ballistic missile. The multi-warhead missile lifted off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Northern Russia and hit several designated targetes at the Kura testing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula, 6,000 kilometres (4,000 miles) to the east. The RS-24 ICBM is an entirely new missile which is build on the technologies of Russia's Topol-M missile but has the novelty of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads.

A spokesman for the Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) press service confirmed the success test firing: "All the warheads hit the designated areas at the Kura testing grounds. All the tasks in the test have been accomplished."

It was the third test launch of the RS-24, which is intended to gradually replace the aging Soviet-built intercontinental ballistic missiles such as SS-18 and SS-19 that still form the core of Russia's nuclear arsenal. However, this will need time: According to military officials, it is expected that the older Soviet-missiles will completely be replaced not until 2050.

In May 2007 Moscow first test-fired the RS-24 and again successfully on December 25, 2007.

"The deployment of the RS-24 missiles, which have a detachable warhead, strengthens the military options of the Russian missile forces in overcoming missile defence systems," the commander of Russia's strategic missile forces, Nikolai Solovtsov said. He also mentioned that the missile would "strengthen Russia's nuclear deterrence."

According to military officials the RS-24 is designed to overcome air-defence systems such as the U.S. missile-shield planned for deployment in Poland and the Czech Republic. The multi-warhead missile is capable of carrying three nuclear warheads and is expected to enter service in 2009.

In the recent test, the RS-24 was fired from a mobile launcher. The test aimed at obtaining data confirming the missile's technical characteristics and its readiness to enter service. It is expected that the RS-24 missile system would enter service in 2009 and be deployed both in silos and on mobile platforms. Together with the Topol-M single-warhead ICBM missiles they will form the core of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces in the future, Solovtsov said. An upgraded version of the Topol missile, the RS-12M was test-fired in September. Russia has been upgrading its Topol arsenal "to avoid ground-based detection systems," Alexander Vovk, a spokesman for Russia's strategic nuclear forces, said.

This recent test come amid increasingly strained ties with the United States following the U.S. plans for a missile-defence system based in Poland and the Czech Republic. Early November, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned the U.S. and Eastern Europe that Russia will deploy short-range missiles near the Polish boarder if Washington proceeds with its missile defence plans in Eastern Europe. He announced to deploy Iskander missiles into Russia’s western enclave of Kaliningrad, “to neutralize, if necessary, a U.S. build missile defence system.” (see: http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/168/).

Russia is underlining its military capabilities worldwide. It sent a naval squadron to Venezuela for November exercises, a Western Hemisphere deployment unprecedented since the Cold War. Last year, then-President Vladimir Putin ordered the resumption of global patrols by strategic bombers.

“We will strengthen our military capability, we will adopt new types of weapons, but we will continue to test the traditional ballistic missiles we have in service,” President Medvedev said to reporters.


More information:

Moscow Studies New U.S. Missile-Defence Proposal
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/170/

Testing Obama? - Russia to place missiles near Poland
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/168/

U.S. go ahead with missile shield?
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/3623/

3-2-1 Fire! Russia’s “Missile Sunday”
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/148/

Russian Topol RS-12M tested and upgraded to defeat the U.S. missile shield
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/112/

Russian RS-18 missile launching
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/3324/