September 1, 2003 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
In July, reports came forward that Russia had been purchasing 130 or 150 SS-19 ICBMs from Ukraine, the balance of the much larger number of those missiles which had been retained in that province after the fall of the Soviet Union.
The September 1 edition of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets reports that Russia is also purchasing 30 first- and second-stage booster stages for the SS-19 missiles, for a price equivalent to 50 million dollars. According to the report, these are the boosters for the RS-18 15A35, known by the Western designations SS-19 and ‘Stiletto’.
According to Janes, the Russian press reports that the programme for this transfer began in October 2002. These missiles, which had apparently been in “dry storage,” will now be transferred and stored in the Strategic Rocket Force facilities at Pibanshur in Udmurtia and Krizolotiovy, and will serve to extend the lives of the SS-19 stockpile. Janes says that the refitting will give the SS-19s an additional 15-20 years of service.
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: SS-21 A, SS-21 B
