Tests New ICBM, Cruise Missile
For those of you who may long for the days of the Cold War
between the United States and Russia -- at least compared with
today's global fight against terrorists -- the following story may
provide a bit of nostalgia. It may also be more than a little
disquieting.
Russia announced Tuesday it tested a new intercontinental
ballistic missile, that a Kremlin official boasted could penetrate
any defense system -- most notably, those now being tested by the
US. The test comes as belligerant Russian president Vladimir Putin
warned US plans for an anti-missile shield over Europe would result
in a "powder keg."
"We consider it harmful and dangerous to turn Europe into a
powder keg and to fill it with new kinds of weapons," Putin said at
a news conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates,
according to The Associated Press, shortly before the announcement
of the successful ICBM test.
"As of today, Russia has new tactical and strategic complexes
that are capable of overcoming any existing or future missile
defense systems," First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said,
according to the ITAR-Tass news agency. "So in terms of defense and
security, Russians can look calmly to the country's future."
They may be the only ones who are calm. The test RS-24 ICBM
reportedly sent its dummy warhead 3,400 miles, where it landed on
target on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Russian arms control expert Alexander Pikayev said the new
missile looks to be part of the country's promised response to
missile defense plans, as Russia seeks to strengthen its nuclear
capabilities after the "significant downsizing" following the 1991
collapse of the Soviet Union.
Ivanov -- a former defense minister, viewed as a possible
replacement for Putin next year -- also announced the successful
"preliminary" test of a tactical cruise missile, designed to be
launched from a mobile Iskander-M launcher.
Russia's Strategic Missile Forces stressed the tests conformed
to the limitations spelled out in the START-I treaty, as well as
the 2002 Moscow Treaty calling for reductions in both US and
Russian warhead arsenals.
Harvard University analyst Matthew Bunn echoed that claim,
saying the missile test was "in line with Russia's renewed emphasis
in recent years of maintaining their weapons systems after years of
decline."
Still... did it just get a bit chilly in here?
Brrr...