Russia fires ICBM near Ukraine

[xhw1986]

Russia said it had successfully test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on Tuesday, with tensions high over its seizure of control in the Crimea and its threat to send more forces to its neighbour Ukraine.
The Strategic Rocket Forces launched an RS-12M Topol missile from the southerly Astrakhan region and the dummy warhead hit its target at a proving ground in Kazakhstan, Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Yegorov told state-run news agency RIA.

The launch site, Kapustin Yar, is near the Volga River about 450 km (280 miles) east of the Ukrainian border. Kazakhstan, a Russian ally in a post-Soviet security grouping, is further to the east.

Russia and the United States signed the latest of a series of treaties restricting the numbers of ICBMs in 2010, but Moscow has indicated it will agree further cuts in the near future and is taking steps to upgrade its nuclear arsenal.

President Vladimir Putin has emphasised that Russia must maintain a strong nuclear deterrent, in part because of an anti-missile shield the United States is building in Europe which Moscow says could undermine its security.

The 20 metre (60 foot) long RS-12M, known in NATO parlance as the SS-25 Sickle, was first put in service in 1985, six years before the collapse of the Soviet Union, and is designed to carry a nuclear warhead. Its range is 10,500 km (6,000 miles).

Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine - Yahoo News UK

 

[slapshot]

Russia is flexing its muscle to the west. Lets hope they will not need to use ICBMs

 

[LordTyrannus]

Boom goes the dynamite

 

[Commander T]

Russia is flexing its muscle to the west. Lets hope they will not need to use ICBMs

do it, do it, do it maaaaaannnnnnnn......i like it when US shivers

 

[rockstar08]

I don't know what Russia will do , but I am sure whatever they will do that will be HUGE

 

[Falcon29]

Is this considered a major development? And what kind of message is Russia trying to send?

Only experts answer this please.

 

[HRK]

Russia Test-Fires ICBM to Target in Kazakhstan | Defense | RIA Novosti
04/03/2014

MOSCOW, March 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russia test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a test site in southern Russia on Tuesday evening, a Russian defense ministry spokesman said.

Kapustin Yar is about 450 km (280 miles) east of the Ukrainian border. The launch coincided with reports of large deployments of apparently Russia-commanded troops in Crimea, which President Vladimir Putin denied on Tuesday.

Spokesman Igor Yegorov said the launch took place at 22:10 Moscow time (6:10 p.m. GMT) from the Kapustin Yar testing range in southern Russia’s Astrakhan Region.

The test was successful as the simulated warhead hit a designated target at a test range in Kazakhstan.

Yegorov said the aim of the test was to test suggested improvements of the ICBM, which entered service in 1985.

A Defense Ministry spokesman said in early January that the Russian military plans to test around 70 types of rocket and missile weaponry at Kapustin Yar this year.

The testing program at the Kapustin Yar range in southern Russia will include about 300 launches of rockets, missiles, and aerial drones as part of more than 180 R&D projects, said Colonel Igor Yegorov.

The range is located in the Astrakhan region between the cities of Volgograd and Astrakhan. It is known for tests of Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles, S-300 and S-400 air defense systems and Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems.

The RS-12M Topol (NATO reporting name SS-25 Sickle) is a single-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile that has a maximum range of 10,000 kilometers (6,125 miles) and can carry a nuclear warhead with a yield of up to 550 kilotons.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Multi-Polar Multi-lateralism is back. Moscow has grown a pair and become more assertive to defend its rights. The days of sole Super Power are long gone.

 

[Aegis DDG]

Multi-Polar Multi-lateralism is back. Moscow has grown a pair and become more assertive to defend its rights. The days of sole Super Power are gone.

True, I hope China and Japan take notice...

 

[LordTyrannus]

Japan? japan has enough to do with GODZILLA

Japs do you want another radioactive war? No? Than sit down and enjoy the show!

 

[Falcon29]

This is China's opportunity to flex its muscles.

 

[LordTyrannus]

If i were China, i would take Taiwan by surprise now. Andn North korea should also do some nasty stuff against the evil cowboys. The time is perfect!

 

[Sugarcane]

And Obama erased previous red line and drew new one.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

If i were China, i would take Taiwan by surprise now. Andn North korea should also do some nasty stuff against the evil cowboys. The time is perfect!

If they behave like those thugs who have hijacked Kiev, then it is indeed a good opportunity.

But the current Taiwanese government is like Yanukovych, a swinger between China and USA.

 

[Götterdämmerung]

Don't pushed a hurt bear to the corner.

Well, lets see how well the US could play if on the eastern front China starts the game as well.