The World Tribune


Russia tests second nuke missile in week

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

Monday, November 8, 1999

MOSCOW -- Russia, which opposes a revision of a 1972 missile treaty with the United States, has test-fired a nuclear missile for the second time this week.

Russian officials said the SS-21 missile was fired on Thursday, in a test to determine its effectiveness. They said the missile was fired at the main range at Kapustin Yar in southern Russia.

The SS-21 is designed for tactical strikes. On Tuesday, the Strategic Rocket Forces fired an anti-missile weapon for the first time in six years.

Strategic Rocket Forces chief Vladimir Yakovlev said the SS-21 test was successful and its shelf-life would now be extended to 22 years. The missile, known as Scarab by NATO, has already been deployed for more than 20 years.

The missile launches come as Russia opposes U.S. appeals for a revision of the 1972 ABM Treaty to allow Washington to develop a national missile defense system. Yakovlev told RIA news agency that if the United States violated the ABM pact Russia would be "freed from all obligations and the situation could become unpredictable."

Monday, November 8, 1999


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