August 11, 2004 :: Itar-Tass :: News
Russia today tested an RS-18 (SS-19) ICBM, reported by the Russian State news agency Itar-Tass as the 70th test launch of the massive strategic weapon, but by Interfax as having been closer to the 90th. The missile is capable of being armed with six independently targetable nuclear warheads, and has a range of over 10,000km. The successful test launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome was described in the press briefing as having accurately hit its target in the Kamchatka missile range some 6,700km away, located in far eastern Russia.
Interfax notes that this launch was the fifth this year by the Strategic Missile Forces, and cites Strategic Missile Force Commander Colonel General Nikolai Solovtsov as saying that a total of ten missile launches have been scheduled for 2004. This number most likely does not, however, include the three launches thus far this year of the short range but nuclear capable SS-21 Tochka, most recently launched eight days ago, on August 3.
The first test of the SS-19 is said to have taken place at the Baikonur space center in 1973. The SS-19s are reported to be currently in service with the Tatishchevo and the Kozelsk Strategic Missile Forces units.
A report by Interfax seems to indicate that the launch was of the more recently modified version labeled the “RS-18B,” which probably corresponds to the NATO designation SS-19 Mod 2. Moreover, the Interfax description of the characteristics of the SS-19 launched also matches those of the SS-19 Mod 2: “a range of over 10,000 km; a launch weight of 105.6 tons; a length of 24 m; a diameter of 2.5 m; two stages; a MIRV warhead, liquid-state propellant boosters; gas-dynamic launch from a silo.” (Article)
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-19 Mod 1, SS-19 Mod 2
