Russia to deploy new nuclear missiles
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, October 11, 1999
MOSCOW -- Russia plans to deploy a second batch of its new Topol-M
nuclear missiles in the first half of December.
"A second Strategic Rocket Forces regiment equipped with land-based
Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles will assume full combat
readiness in the first half of December this year," deputy Defense Minister
Col.-Gen. Alexander Kosovan told a news conference.
The RIA news agency quoted Kosovan, deputy defense minister in charge
of military construction and housing, as saying that the first 10 Topol-M
missiles were installed in their silos last December. The Topol-M, known to
the West as the SS-27, is slated to become the backbone of Russia's nuclear
deterrent.
Russian officials said last month that Moscow had eight years at most to
replace its aging nuclear arsenal before most of it becomes obsolete.
Kosovan said two missile early warning systems were near completion and
a number of air and naval bases had been repaired this year. But he added
many bases were in poor shape because of limited government investment that
stems from the nation's economic crisis.
Monday, October 11, 1999
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