Russia Tests Topol-M
December 24, 2004 :: LA Times :: News
While the West prepares for Christmas, Russia today launched a Topol-M ballistic missile, its last ballistic missile test reportedly scheduled for 2004. It is also the last test of the Topol-M (SS-27) before it is put into full combat service. The land-based missile—the mobile version of which was tested today for the fourth time—was launched from the Plesetsk test site in the northern Arkhangelsk region. It traveled to and successfully hit its target at the Kura testing range on the Kamchatka peninsula.
This test brings the total number of Russian ICBM/SLBM launches in 2004 to fifteen. They were as follows:
(More »»»)
» RIA Novosti description of Topol-M
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-27
Russia Tests SS-18
December 22, 2004 :: Itar-Tass :: News
Russia today tested its SS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, which it test fired from the Dombarovsky missile base in the Odenberg region of Russia, traveling some 6,000km to the Kura testing ground on the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula. This was the first test of a missile being launched from within Russia proper since 1991, reports Interfax—most test launches of the SS-18 take place from Kazakhstan.
The missile in question was described as the RS-20V (R-36M2) Voyevoda, which has been in service for some 16 years, and which will remain in service for another ten or 15 years. It is known as the SS-18 or as “Satan” in the West. Of the two versions or “modifications” of SS-18s currently deployed, this was probably the SS-18 Mod 4. Russia reportedly has about 40-50 of these missiles currently in service.
Russia is expected to test one more missile in 2004, the Topol-M, this Friday, December 24. (More »»»)
» RIA Novosti on SS-18, upcoming Topol-M, tests
» Podvig on SS-18 launch
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-18 Mod 3, SS-18 Mod 4
Russia to Conduct Another Ten Missile Tests in 2005
December 10, 2004 :: Interfax :: News
In early 2004, Russian Colonel-General Nikolay Solovtsov, commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops announced that it would test a total of 10 ICBMs in the coming year. Russia now plans to do the same in 2005, reports Interfax.
Solovtsov said at a news conference today that, “In compliance with our combat training plans, we are going to launch 10 strategic missiles in 2005, which is almost the same number we launched this year.”
According to public reports tracked by Missilethreat.com, Russia has in fact conducted a total of some thirteen launches to date this year. They were as follows:
Excluding SLBM launches, there were a total of eight land-based ICBM tests this year. An additional test of the land-based Topol-M, and possibly another “heavy missile,” has been reportedly scheduled for sometime during December, but it is unclear if this will still take place.
Besides these ICBM/SLBM tests, there were at least three launches of the short-range but nuclear capable SS-21 “Tochka” in 2004: on April 2, June 3, and August 3. (Article, Link)
» Feb. 12, 2004: Solovtsov: Ten missile launches in 2004
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
Pakistan Launches Hatf-4
December 8, 2004 :: BBC :: News
Pakistan today tested its Hatf-4 (Shaheen 1) Ballistic missile, with an estimated range of 700km. The test is Pakistan’s second in ten days. On November 29, Pakistan launched the Hatf-3, with a range of 290km, and on October 12 it tested the Hatf-5, with a range of 1500-1800km.
The Hatf-4 is able to deliver both nuclear and conventional warheads. Pakistani television, PTV World, noted in a report on today’s test that the Hatf-4 missile has been handed over to the Pakistan Strategic Force Command, along with the Hatf-3 and Hatf-5. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 4
Pakistan Launches Hatf-3 Missile
November 29, 2004 :: News
Pakistan today test launched its Hatf-3 (Ghaznavi) ballistic missile. The test of the 290km range, nuclear capable missile was described as completely successful, and for the purposes of testing the missile’s most recent version. A military official was reported as saying that further tests will be conducted in the coming days. (Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 3
India Tests Short Range SAM
November 27, 2004 :: News
On November 26, India test launched its short range “Akash” (Sky) surface to air missile. Despite the air defense missile’s limited range (25-30km), it is said to be capable of both conventional and nuclear warheads, with a reported payload of 60kg. The test took place from the coastal test range on the eastern province of Orissa.
A nuclear warhead could potentially give the missile the capability to destroy both aircraft and warheads from ballistic missiles. The missile is described as being able to strike several targets simultaneously, which could mean either separate, independently targetable warheads, or a sufficient blast to destroy a number of them. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: India, Testing - Foreign
Georgia to Test Upgraded Soviet-Era Defenses
November 16, 2004 :: Interfax :: News
Georgia is preparing a test of its S-125 air defense systems, inherited from the Soviet Union, according to a report by the Russian Interfax news agency. The tests are scheduled to take place at sea, and follow upon recent upgrades to the system. The S-125 air defense system is said to have a range of 25 km and a maximum altitude of 18 km. (Link)
» Description of S-125
» Interfax report
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Testing - Foreign
India Again Launches Dhanush Missile
November 8, 2004 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
India yesterday successfully tested a nuclear-capable ship-launched missile from its eastern coast. The Dhanush missile was launched from a ship in the Bay of Bengal. (More »»»)
» Press release, Govt. of India
» AFP on Dhanush launch
» More stories on: India, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Dhanush
India Launches Brahmos
November 3, 2004 :: News
India test-fired a supersonic cruise missile Wednesday, launching it from an Indian destroyer near the eastern coast of Orissa. The Brahmos cruise missile, which has been developed jointly by India and Russia, is said to have a range of 290 kilometers with a conventional warhead—weighing, according to various reports, 200 or 300kg—and was designed to be launched from ships, submarines or planes. Today’s test reportedly took place from a destroyer, the INS Rajput, from the Bay of Bengal. (More »»»)
» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, India, Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Cruise missile details: BrahMos PJ-10, BrahMos SSC-5
Russia Launches Two Missiles
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). (More »»»)
» Podvig on missile launches
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-25, SS-N-18 Mod 1, SS-N-18 Mod 3
