Article Posted on : - Oct 20, 2012

MOSCOW (AFP): Russia has test-fired two nuclear-capable ballistic missiles as it continued to hone their effectiveness amid an escalating row with the United States over space defence and other issues.

The Russian defence ministry and a navy officials said Friday the Topol and R-29R rockets were fired from an underground bunker and a submerged submarine on opposite sides of the country in the northwest and Far East.

The dummy warheads each flew more than 6,000 kilometres in opposing directions before hitting their targets at precisely scheduled times.

"The Topol's reliability assessment shows that its operations can be extended in the future," the defence ministry said in a statement.

A navy official separately told Interfax news agency that the submarine test showed the missile's "high level of effectiveness."

The official added that the submarine launch was the first such conducted this year.

Russia -- the only country to test-launch intercontinental ballistic missiles -- often steps up such activities at times of diplomatic tensions with the United States.

Moscow continues to oppose the new NATO-led missile defence shield for Europe and in the past year has been arguing with Washington over Russia's rights record and commitment to democratic reforms, as well as its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.