Russia tests long-range missile
Russia has test-launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile, Russian military officials say.

The launch took place at the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia at 1420 (1020 GMT) on Tuesday.

The missile, called RS-24, can be armed with up to 10 warheads and was designed to evade missile defence systems, the Russian defence ministry says.

Russia has complained that US plans to base parts of an anti-missile system in central Europe threaten its security.

The Americans maintain that their system is not directed at the Russians.

The US wants to deploy interceptor rockets in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic to counter what it describes as a potential threat from "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

The Russian test missile successfully struck its target 5,500km (3,400 miles) away on the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces said.

The statement said the missile would replace two ageing ICBM systems - the RS-18 and RS-20, known in the West as the SS-19 Stiletto and SS-18 Satan, respectively.

Modernising arsenal

Our world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says the Russian missile test has more to do with Russia's plans to modernise its nuclear force than its complaints about the proposed US missile defence shield in Europe, which US officials say could not intercept Russian missiles.

Of particular concern to Russia is the treaty between the US and the then Soviet Union that banned intermediate range nuclear weapons, he writes. This treaty is still in force and applies only to the US and Russia.

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, quoted by Reuters on Tuesday, said the deployment of medium- and short-range missiles by Russia's neighbours to the east and south now posed a "real threat".

"The Soviet-American treaty (on intermediate nuclear forces) is not effective because since (its signature) scores of countries have appeared that have such missiles, while Russia and the United States are not allowed to have them," he told a military-industrial commission in the southern city of Znamensk.

"In these conditions, it is necessary to provide our troops with modern, high-precision weapons."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...pe/6700585.stm

Published: 2007/05/29 14:43:50 GMT

If Russia wants to squander it's resources on preparation for a war they will never have to fight, I suppose that is their right.

I also find it odd that they would waste resources countering a missile defense system that supposedly doesnt work anyway. Do they know something American Liiberals dont?

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Probably , they do...
Besides, all weapon systems, even if they work perfectly , need to be replaced over time, due to the technical progress- simply, RF needs better ICBMs , and it will get them

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In 2005 the US took first place in the military spending league with 420.7 Billion Dollars worth, Europe came in second with 191.98 Billion Russia came in forth place with 61,96. Now who is it that squanders money on the Military?

We have the money to squander, and our money is being spent against real threats.

Russia does NOT have the money to squander, and they are spending it against a nation that is not a threat.

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Which, of course, explains our budget deficits and whopping national debt. We're just flush with cash. Yes sir.

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And the US is preparing a conventional army to fight which invader?

The US conventional forces are no use against an unconventional force, which makes the military expenditure a bit of a waste. With the US costs now being at the cold war level it's a bit of a threat to other national don't you think.

Given the size of the Russian arsenal, it seems the current missile defense system is useless against them anyway. It's designed to thwart puny nations from destroying a city on a whim.

A little off topic but it is kind of weird that from your source:
http://www.nationmaster.com/red/grap...capita&b_map=1

The GNP is double that of the nearest country but percapita we are 5th. This means that our output per worker is not as good. Above us is Switzerland pretty socialist. Luxembourg pretty socialist. Norway also pretty socialist.

#1 Luxembourg: $37,499.20 per person
#2 Switzerland: $36,987.60 per person
#3 Japan: $35,474.10 per person
#4 Norway: $35,053.30 per person
#5 United States: $33,070.30 per person

Keep in mind this isn't due to redistribution of wealth. This is GNP divided by number of people in country.

"GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and prop Per capita figures expressed per 1 population. "

Sorry to hijack the thread.

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Have you even READ this thread at all? We are preparing a missile DEFENSE system, not an army.

We are preparing for a missile attack, not an invasion.

Which is why we are not attempting to use conventional forces. That is how missile defense is different from an army.

Whoch I thought was obvious, but you seem to be confused. I hope I have helped to clear your confusion. (I'm here to help)

How is a defensive system a threat to them?

The only people that should feel threatened are our enemies. Russia is not an enemy.

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