Russia to set up new nuke deterrence

Russia test-fired the Sineva submarine-launched ballistic missile from a Delta-IV class submarine on Tuesday

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/177109.html

The Russian Strategic Missile Forces are installing a new sea-based strategic nuclear deterrent system capable of surviving a full-scale nuclear attack, Russian Defense ministry says.

The Sineva submarine-launched ballistic missile, which was successfully test-fired from a Delta-IV class submarine on Tuesday, is being installed by the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, said Russia's Army spokesman Colonel Vadim Koval, quoted by Russia Today on Wednesday.

"The missile was launched from the Yekaterinburg nuclear submarine from an underwater position in the Barents Sea. The Sineva's warheads reached the Kura range on [the] Kamchatka Peninsula at the planned time," said Russia's Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Igor Konashenkov.

Russian Army officials have not commented on when the process is scheduled to be completed.

The liquid-fuel weapon, with a maximum range of over 10,000 kilometers, can carry four to ten nuclear warheads, depending on the modification.

With the triple-backup communication lines, including satellite, radio and wired lines, the system can operate with no on-site human assistance. It also has a precise automatic self-diagnosis function.

Russia placed Sineva on active duty on July 9, 2007. The system weighs more than 40 metric tons and measures roughly 50 feet in length and six feet in diameter.

The Russian military is undergoing a major development plan with more than USD 700 billion of budget money set to be spent over a decade for procurement of new weapons.

Russia is currently working on the development of its Strategic Missile Forces, including the deployment of RS-24 Yars mobile missiles and construction of a new silo-based missile that would replace the R-36M Voevoda.