Russia Test-Fires Ballistic MissileRussia's Strategic Rocket Forces on Wednesday successfully test-fired a ballistic missile from the Baikonur cosmodrome in the former Soviet republic of Kazakstan, military officials said.The RS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, known as SS-19 in the West, was launched midmorning Wednesday. After flying 4,340 miles it hit the designated target on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East, the military said in a statement carried by the Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agency. According to Interfax, Russia currently has 140 RS-18 missiles, aged from 16 to 27 years, and their number will be reduced to 105 after scheduled cuts. Russia leases the Baikonur cosmodrome from Kazakstan for both civilian and military launches. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |