Russia outwitted U.S. strategic defenses with missile test

RIA Novosti ^ | 13:33 15/07/2009 | some Kremlin tool

[1rudeboy]

MOSCOW, July 15 (RIA Novosti) - The United States was unable to detect the presence of Russian strategic submarines in the Arctic before they test-launched two ballistic missiles, a Russian intelligence source said on Wednesday.

Russia carried out test launches of two Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles from two Delta IV class nuclear-powered submarines, located near the North Pole, on July 13-14.

"The American radars certainly detected the missile launches but their location took them by surprise," the source said.

The first missile, flying a ballistic path, hit its designated target at the Kura testing grounds on the Kamchatka Peninsula, while the second, fired with a flat trajectory, destroyed a target at the Chizha testing site on the White Sea.

The source said that the launch area, covered by ice floe, was heavily patrolled by Russian attack submarines and the Americans were unable to detect the arrival of two strategic submarines before the launch. "At the same time, U.S. reconnaissance satellites are unable to detect submarines under thick ice floe in the Arctic," he said.

The region around the North Pole is a perfect place for launches of ballistic missiles because it allows the submarines to arrive in a designated area undetected and to shorten the missile flight time to the target.

The RSM-54 Sineva (NATO designation SS-N-23 Skiff) is a third-generation liquid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile that entered service with the Russian Navy in July 2007. It can carry four or 10 nuclear warheads, depending on the modification.

Russia plans to equip its Delta IV class submarines with at least 100 Sineva missiles

[ThunderSleeps]

I, like justmythoughts, have more confidence in the claims of a Russian propaganda outlet than I do in our current Commander in Chief.

I'm with you two (too)... If obama and crew said don't worry, we have it under control - I'd worry. The Russians may be right. We may not have detected them at all. Not for lack of technical and tactical capability, but for lack of leadership cojones. In the past, throughout the cold war, there has been a lot of hand-wringing over collisions between US and Russian subs. (read "Blind Man's Bluff") The hand-wringing is particularly evident when a liberal 'rat is sitting in the oval office. Would not surprise me at all if obama, the tactically-challenged-in-chief issued ROE to the Navy that are as 'stupid' as the ROE in Afghanistan.

You know that in Afghanistan, US forces cannot engage an enemy if there are any civilians present, period. I think I even read something about having to sling their weapons... It is the ultimate expression of Viet-Nam idiocy. Now the enemy need not flee across a national border to be "off limits" they merely have to have a civilian nearby/handy...or even someone that looks like a civilian.

Anyway, wouldn't surprise me if the Navy had been forbidden by odummer to do any more "close-in trails."

[Seven plus One]

Obama certainly creates doubt in my mind, as well. But I still want to know-- is the article factual, or is it propaganda?

I'm certain that the Navy knows, but they'll never say what they know. The entire Arctic Ocean might be mined for all we know. Subs under ice are an old defense issue.

[papasmurf]

Hah!

We didn’t fail to detect you, you failed to detect us.

[Vroomfondel]

ping

[gandalftb]

Absolute nonsense, the whole article. One of the most distinctive sounds is the sound of missile hatches opening and the turbulence the open hatch creates. The Ruskies make no effort to mask it.

In the cold dense water of the Arctic we would have heard it from any number of subs we keep and patrol in the area constantly.

The Artic is the busiest sub patrol area of the world. The reason the Ruskies camp out there is that they need to stay close to port and, warmer water causes excessive corrosion and algae growth on their hulls because of cheap surface treatment. In the Arctic their subs can't hide near noisy surface ships. It's like listening to an orchestra, once you're tuned in you can hear every instrument. Imagine trying to hear the same orchestra with AC/DC in the background, that's the masking problem with coastal shipping.

We may have our problems with surface intel, but we rule underseas, especially in the Arctic regions.

[ASOC]

Odd, one point folks seenmd have missed.

A russki boomer pops up and launches not one but 2 SLBMs - on our doorstep?

WIthout an annocement? Not hardley. $hit like that could start a war - you know - the old school one

Total Global Thermocnuler War.

Also, not a peep here in the news - folks in the AO talk and we (Alaska) do have a few radars (DEW line, ARS and the like)- not a peep from FAA, USAF, anyone.

My BS meter is pegged.