November 2, 2004 :: News
While America was electing a president, Russia today tested two ballistic missiles, symbols of its status as a major power capable of threatening the West. The mobile land-based SS-25 (Topol) missile was launched from the Pletesk cosmodrome located some 200 miles northeast of St. Petersburg, and traveled to the missile range on the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula. The SS-N-18 (R-29R) missile was launched from a submarine of the Pacific Fleet, the Project 667BDR (Delta III)-class
St. George the Victor, in the Sea of Okhotsk (next to the Kamchatka peninsula).
The submarine-launched SS-N-18 traveled towards the Chizha test site which has been variously reported as being located on the Kanin Peninsula (south of the Barents sea) and the Novaya Zemlya island. Another report said only that the missile traveled to a spot in northern Russia; another by ITAR TASS, that the missile was heading in the direction of the Chizha range. The SS-N-18 is the first to be launched from a Pacific Fleet submarine this year; previous SLBM tests in 2004 have been by the Northern Fleet in the northwestern Barents Sea, with the missile usually traveling to the eastern Kamchatka missile range.
A representative of the Russian Space Forces was quoted as saying that the Topol test was part of a program to extend its service life. Russia has already conducted testing on its SS-18 and SS-19 missiles to extend their service lives through 2015.
Pavel Podvig identifies the SS-N-18 as the R-29R, which could be either the SS-N-18 Mod 1 or Mod 3. (Article)
» Podvig on missile launches
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-25, SS-N-18 Mod 1, SS-N-18 Mod 3
