Russia continues to successfully test-launch intercontinental ballistic missiles
A combat team of the Strategic Missile Forces conducted a test launch of a Topol ICBM from a ground-based mobile launcher at the Kapustin Yar test range in the Astrakhan region.
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| Topol intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Source: TASS |
On July 26, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) successfully test-launched the Topol intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region, southern Russia.
A statement from the Russian Defense Ministry said: "On July 26, a combat team of the Strategic Missile Forces conducted a test launch of a Topol ICBM from a mobile ground-based launcher at the Kapustin Yar test range in the Astrakhan region."
According to the statement, "the mock warhead hit the designated target at the Sary-Shagan test site (in Kazakhstan) with the desired accuracy."
Earlier this month, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces had successfully tested a new anti-ballistic missile in a Central Asian desert, as the country's military prepares to receive the next-generation S-500 Prometey air defense system.
The test was conducted at the Sary-Shagan test site in central Kazakhstan. However, the agency did not provide details about the type of missile used.
Russia has conducted several missile tests in recent times. In early June, Moscow successfully test-fired an anti-ballistic missile at the Sary-Shagan test site.
The Russian military has remained tight-lipped about the details of the tests, but previously announced that it had put the S-500 Prometey long-range defense missile system into mass production after completing most of the manufacturing and testing processes.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the delivery of the S-500 system to the military will begin in 2020. The system is designed to be operational within 25 years.
The S-500 is the latest version of the long-range missile defense system developed by leading Russian defense contractor Almaz-Antey. The system's specifications are still being kept secret.
However, defense sources and manufacturers said the S-500 will be reinforced and upgraded with superior defense and anti-ballistic missile capabilities compared to the S-400./.