Amid Rising Tensions With America Russia Test Fires Three ICBMs

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:00:37 +0000
AHN Staff

Moscow. Russia (AHN) - Russia has successfully test-fired another three intercontinental ballistic missiles on Sunday, as the event was watched over by President Dmitry Medvedev.

With the latest launch, Russia has proved that its missile defenses are strong amid rising tension between Moscow and the Washington after its attack on Georgia.

The Russian officials said it was the test-firing of a 21-year-old Topol, which is a single-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) similar to the U.S. Minuteman ICBM in shape and size.

Topol missile hit its target thousand miles east on the Kamchatka Peninsula, which is the Kura test range, at 11:50 a.m. Moscow time (7:50 GMT).

Russia had recently declared to construct a "guaranteed nuclear deterrent system" in a bid to modernize its military forces and upgrade its nuclear deterrent.

Russian president had announced that he expects his defense officials to submit their proposals by the end of this year to upgrade the country's nuclear systems to be in place by 2020.

Medvedev had indicated that it is crucial for Russia to make a realistic assessment of the global military and political situation and have a clear understanding of potential threats.

On Saturday, He also observed from an aircraft carrier the launch of Sineva ballistic missiles, which traveled more than 11,500km (7,145 miles).

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