Missile launches and airspace incursions coincide with NATO visit (300 words)

Published: 2/19/2001

It seems the Russians are eager to prove to the new US President that they are intimidated neither by his succession nor his anti-missile defence plans. To that end they are demonstrating that the Russian armed forces, though depleted, have not lost their teeth. During the week before the Secretary's visit, Russia publicly tested missile systems and announced agreements in Ukraine to keep the existing force “fit”. It also tested its air defences to the extent that, Japan reported an incursion by two Tu-22s with Su-27 escorts and also the Norwegians had to scramble fighters. The missile testing exercises came days before the visit of Lord Robertson, Secretary General of NATO, with a show of strength represented by a strategic missile RSM-54 launch from a submarine K-407 “Novomoskovsk” in the Barents Sea, to the Kura testing range in Kamchatka. This was followed 15 minutes later, by the launch of a Topol-M intercontinental missile from the Plesetek base in North Western Russia, which in turn was followed by the launch of another undisclosed H-55 strategic missile from a Tu-95MS. Russian television also showed reports of Tu-22M testing H-22MA tactical weapons from the Shaikova air base in Kaluga. Not surprisingly all missiles were reported top have hit their targets and the latter event no doubt served to improve Russia's reported marketing efforts to lease the Tu-22M3 to India. During last week's visit to Ukraine one of the major focuses of attention, besides propping up President Kuchma's wobbling regime, was to reiterate and reinforce the relationships and agreement between Russian and Ukraine's missile and defence industries. Discussions related particularly to the building and maintenance of Russian strategic missile forces with the cooperation of the Ukrainian industry.

Article ID: 2366