Posted on 09/02/2003 6:48:24 PM PDT by Brian S
MOSCOW, Sept 2 (AFP) - Russia Tuesday successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, Interfax quoted a senior navy official as saying.
The missile was launched by the Podolsk warship of the Russian Pacific fleet stationed in the far eastern Okhotsk Sea.
Minutes later, it successfully hit its target at the Chizha military target area near the Barents Sea in Russia's northeast, the news agency quoted navy spokesman Igor Dygalo as saying.
The launch came three days after the Russian navy lost another nuclear submarine when the decommissioned K-159 sub sank in Arctic waters while being towed to port, killing nine seamen.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on Sunday said that negligence caused the sinking of the K-159 as authorities declared a day of mourning amid echoes of the Kursk disaster in which 118 people died just three years earlier.
zak/bb/sjw
Russia-military
Russia is still the 2nd most formidable nation on the earth. We're foolish to forget that.
Air Force tests Minuteman III missile in launch from Calif. base
Associated Press ^ | 08-06-03
Posted on 08/06/2003 11:14 AM EDT by Brian S
Air Force tests Minuteman III missile in launch from Calif. base
Wednesday, August 6, 2003
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(08-06) 07:56 PDT VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) --
The Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile early Wednesday from this base along the Central California coast, officials said.
The Boeing Co.-made missile was launched at 2:06 a.m. PDT on a 4,800-mile trip across the Pacific Ocean toward a target in the Kwajalein Missile Range. The missile was to take about 30 minutes to reach its target.
The Air Force routinely test launches the nearly 60-foot missiles to assess their performance and reliability, said Senior Airman Brian Hill.
The Air Force has about 500 nuclear warhead-tipped Minuteman III missiles in its arsenal, in silos located in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming.
The missile launched on Wednesday was taken from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Hill said
Russia & America -- friends forever. The show is for others [you know who you are] who might be tempted some day to make a poor international decision.
2001 Sept. 18: The long-range ballistic missile blasted off from the Podolsk submarine in the Sea of Okhotsk and successfully reached the target in the Barents Sea, navy announced.
On September 18, the Delta III Class Pacific Fleet submarine K-223 Podolsk launched a SS-N-18 SLBM from the Sea of Okhotsk.
The Delta IIIs (Russian designation, Kalmar class, Type 667BDR) carry the SS-N-18, the first MIRVed Soviet SLBM. There are several modifications of this missile, and some Delta IIIs have reportedly been retrofitted to fire the SS-N-23 used in the Delta IVs. The Russians may decide to retrofit the entire Delta III fleet and replace the older SS-N-18. Like the other Delta class SSBNs, they have a distinctive "hump"over the missile tube housing.
SS-N-18: It is a two-stage missile in service with the D-9R submarine strategic missile system. It can carry either a single or MIRVed warhead. The D-9R and D-9 missile systems have high commonality level of their ground support equipment, launch systems, as well as routine and prelaunch preparation procedures.
SS-N-23: It is a three-stage missile in service with the D-9RM submarine strategic missile system. It carries the MIRVed warhead. The missile's specific feature is that its 3rd stage and post-boost stage propulsion system are fed with fuel from common fuel tanks. In addition to the celestial navigation, the missile uses navigation satellites positioning data.
The Russians aren't concerned about us. They know we'll never get into it with them, and in our own perverse way we have a certain amount of respect for them and they have a certain amount of respect for us as an adversary. The Cold War was a game well-played even though we won.
The Russian missile capability is really a defensive measure for all practical purposes, as they can't really project force very well. They are FAR more interested in making sure that China is paying attention than us. The Russians are far from stupid; they know who the real threat is.
Guided Missile Submarines — SSGN
Effective: January 21, 2003
Description: Nuclear-powered submarines armed with tactical missiles and the ability to transport and support special operations forces.
Background: Four Ohio-class Trident submarines that were previously scheduled for inactivation during Fiscal Years 2003 and 2004 are being converted to guided missile submarines (SSGN) over a five-year period ending in 2008. The primary missions of the SSGN will be land attack and Special Operations Forces (SOF) insertion and support. Secondary missions will be the traditional attack submarine missions of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), battle space preparation, and sea control.
These ships will be armed with up to 154 Tomahawk® or Tactical Tomahawk® land attack missiles. They will have the ability to carry and support a team of 66 SOF personnel for up to 90 days as compared to 15 days for a SOF outfitted fast attack submarine (SSN). Clandestine insertion and retrieval of these Special Operations Forces will be enhanced by the ability to host dual dry deck shelters and/or Advanced Seal Delivery System. Each SSGN will be able to conduct a variety of peace-time, conventional deterrent, and combat operations all within the same deployment.
USS Ohio (SSBN 726) entered the conversion yard on 15 November 2002. On 14 January 2003, USS Florida (SSBN 728) became the first Ohio-class submarine to launcha cruise missile. The launch was made from underwater in the Gulf of Mexico.
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