Russia test fires intercontinental missiles

Russia test-launched a strategic missile to the equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean for the first time on Saturday.

President Dmitry Medvedev, who watched the launch from the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, has said problems caused by global financial turmoil would not hurt Russian plans to revive its armed forces, a symbol for Moscow's resurgence.

Russia's newest missile, the Sineva, was launched by the nuclear-powered submarine Tula from an underwater position in the Arctic Barents Sea, and hit an unspecified area near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, a navy spokesman said.

"For the first time in the history of the Russian Navy the target of the missile was in an equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean rather than the Kura testing ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula," he said.

Russian television showed the missile emerging from the icy waters of the Arctic Barents sea for the 11,547 km (7,200 miles) journey to the Pacific.

"Not one missile of this class has ever flown so far," Russian television showed Medvedev telling sailors.

The spokesman did not specify the area where the missile landed. He said the area was closed for navigation and flights ahead of the test in accordance with international rules.

Medvedev's predecessor Vladimir Putin focused on reviving the armed forces, which were neglected for around 10 years after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Russia's strategic bombers have restarted regular patrols over the Atlantic Ocean, irking NATO, and a group of the Northern Fleet ships is on its way to the Caribbean to take part in joint exercises with U.S. foe Venezuela. Two Russian warships and their support vessels docked in Tripoli ahead of making the transatlantic trip.

MODERNISE FORCES

Russia's commitment to modernize its armed forces has grown as its ties with the West reached their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian troops crushed Georgia's attempt to retake a pro-Moscow separatist region.

On Saturday, Medvedev said Russia would start building aircraft carriers, a type of vessel once derided by the Soviet military as an instrument of imperialism unbecoming of Moscow's defensive military posture.

He said Russia should "not scrimp" on its armed forced and called for government spending to improve living condition for its armed forces as well as new weapons systems.

Russia, which saw eight years of strong economic growth under Putin, has adopted the goal of becoming one of the world's leading economies by 2020. Medvedev says the economy has enough resources to survive the global turmoil and achieve its goals.

Putin, now Russia's prime minister, has said the next year's budges will see another 30-percent growth in defense spending.

The Sineva missile, advertised by the Russia military as an element of a new generation of Russian strategic weapons capable of surpassing any missile defense system, was commissioned last year. The Russian military says the missiles of Sineva's class will be operational at least until 2030.

Medvedev's appearance with the Northern Fleet in Murmansk is his second major visit to navy installations in just two weeks and he will oversee exercises attended by 5,000 troops, eight warships and five submarines.

Category:

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Tags:

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• US
• EU
• NATO

[Primorsky]

"because the U.S has a missile shield an russia doesn't.:)"

Stop spreading bullshit

Russia has first deployed missile shield in the world, missile defence of Moscow (since 1971).

USSR was a first country that successfuly intercepted ICBM warhead in 1961, many years before yankees did that (they did it only 23 years later).

Lasers on boeings - bullshit, it has short range and very vulnerable,

Russia has missiles of all types and space drons.

[mihajlo777]

God bless Russia !!!

[ABHISHEK24442]

when i will hear that a country destroyed their missile....

need to invest money in education,health not in weapons.

[cardude1992]

this guy kicks obama's ass lmao

[kluivert666]

a lot of american weapons have failed in the past... so who said the missile shield is 100% accurate ?

[Oleg111222333]

@yuowatcher And all these 10 years, he will not eat, dress and live on the street in a cardboard box with a Siberian winter?

[yuowatcher]

@Oleg111222333 As old saying goes: clever listens and takes a note. Not clever: objects.

Just remember what I said in 10 years ;-)

[Oleg111222333]

@yuowatcher You are the victim of propaganda. I live in Siberia and in my work with people I only know of one Chinese. Quite simply, the Chinese are taking low-paid jobs just to about 333 dollar a month. The cheapest apartment costs about $ 30,000. Monthly rent the cheapest apartment costs about $ 300. They come to work in Russia to work and live in 5-10 people in a rented room. They have a chance to earn living together, but the chance is very small balances.

[kureselisinis]

@mihajlo777 and türkiye together with russia.

[dooalittledippsy]

@Primorsky And dont forget beautiful Russian women!

[yuowatcher]

Only... no missiles can help against chinese silent occupation of Siberia... which is happening already as we speak.

[gazakind]

@assman12354 "helped"?

they did the main work

united states intervented just to avoid that russia will free the whole european continent from nazis

and maybe occupie it..