August 13, 2006 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: News
Russian Ren TV today profiled the Sary-Shagan missile test range in Kazakhstan, as part of its “military secrets” program. Located near Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan, Sary-Shagan is the main proving ground for the Strategic Anti-Missile Troops that operate Russia’s missile defense systems. Sary-Shagan, which means “Golden Bay” in Kazakh, is located on a deserted steppe stretching for several thousand square kilometers. General Velor Maklashov, who heads the range, shared video footage of missile launches and successful intercepts, which the narrator described as “a duel, except instead of pistols or swords the opponents are armed with state-of-the-art weapons, a missile and an anti-missile.”
The program also made a point of criticizing U.S. missile defense policy, noting the “increased importance” of Sary-Shagan “after the U.S. abrogated the ABM treaty.” It added that “the Americans, who are so proud of their anti-missile defense system, were able to achieve similar results only 23 years [after us].” (Article)
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