Article Posted on : - Apr 13, 2010

The 'smerch' missile system of Russia. A file photo.

MOSCOW (BNS): The Russian Army plans to test fire five tactical missiles and 20 salvo-based 'smerch' missiles in 2010, an army official has said.

�In 2010 it is planned to hold about five combat-training launches of tactical missiles and 20 launches of jet-driven salvo missile systems �Smerch,� Colonel Oleg Yushkov, spokesman of the Russian ground forces, told RIA Novosti.

The missile troops and artillerymen of the army will demonstrate their skill during the operational-strategic exercises �Vostok-2010�, in which the troops of the Siberian and Far Eastern Military districts will participate, the official said.

The Russian Army, in 2009, had carried out combat-training launches of nine tactical missile systems �Point-U�. It had also test fired the �Grad�, �Hurricane� and �Twister� missiles during the planned training exercises at District firing grounds, Yushkov said.

�This year a missile brigade of the Volga-Urals Military District finished their military exercises at the site Kapustin Yar (Astrakhan region) by the launch of a tactical missile. The target was successfully hit,� Yushkov said.