Article Posted on : - Oct 29, 2010

The RS-12M Topol missile

MOSCOW (PTI): Russia has successfully launched two inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) from land and naval platforms in order to test the operational capability of deployed missiles.

The RS-12M Topol missile was launched from the Plesetsk space centre in northern Russia and hit its designated target on the Kura test range in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region, Space Forces spokesman Lt Col Alexei Zolotukhin told ITAR-TASS, Thursday.

The tested missile was in active service from 1987 to 2007 with the 54th Strategic Missile Division near the town of Teikovo in Ivanovo region, about 240 km northeast of Moscow.

Thursday’s test launch has allowed Russia to extend the service life of Topol missiles to 23 years from initial 10 years.

The Defence Ministry said Thursday that the Russian naval submarine "Bryansk" also test launched the regular 'Sineva' ballistic missile from the submerged position in the Barents Sea.

It noted that the dummy warheads precisely hit the designated targets at Kura range in Kamchatka.