Posted on 11/10/2004 2:17:53 AM PST by Truth666
The first launch of the Satan ballistic missile directly from the area of its basing has been scheduled until the end of this year, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told a meeting of government members with the President in the Kremlin.
On his part, Vladimir Putin told the Russian defense minister to use the Russian terminology of Russian ICBMs. "Let them call it Satan in the West," Vladimir Putin said.
The SS-18 Satan missile is the NATO's classification of Russia's RS-20 missile.
As Sergei Ivanov said, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces have carried out six launches and plan to carry out two more launches this year. Apart from RS-20 missiles, launches from the Topol-M strategic systems are also planned.
The defense minister also noted that this year the Russian Navy had carried out 10 launches of ICBMs and planned another launch until the end of the year.
Sergei Ivanov also reported that two combating training launches had been successfully carried out from a submarine and a ground-based Topol system.
The first launch was made in the Sea of Okhotsk by a submarine of the Pacific Fleet, which had been recently repaired. The launch was carried out from the submarine's submerged position. The combat training missiles successfully reached the north of Russia's European part," Sergei Ivanov said.
In his report, the defense minister stressed that the launch was a "big step for our industry because it [the missile] was created with the use of exclusively Russian digital technologies and can be used both for military and civil purposes."
Mr. Ivanov also said that the missile's payload had expanded by 800 kg and its guidance accuracy had also increased.
The devil you say.
"Where the hell is major Kong???"
Shhhh...don't tell anyone but we named our planes "Helldiver" and "Hellcat" ...and there was a sub named the "Devilfish."
That is one huge rocket. It's been in service for some time now. I would think that they've drilled in fueling/de-fueling these things over the years. Amazing that they haven't had a spectacular accident -- unless we just haven't heard about it...
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