Russia launches radar system to counter US missile shield

**vector7** · December 2nd, 2011, 04:46

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Russia launches radar system to counter US missile shield

Nov 29, 2011, 08.06PM IST
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MOSCOW: In its bid to counter Western plans for a US missile shield in Europe, Russia on Tuesday launched a state-of-the art antimissile radar with a detection range of 6,000 kilometres, close to the borders of NATO alliance members Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic coast.

Sticking to his last week's threat to take steps to counter US-led NATO missile defence system in Europe posing mortal danger for Moscow's nuclear deterrence, President Dmitry Medvedev said, "This is the first signal of Russia's readiness for an adequate response to the threats posed by European AMD to our strategic nuclear forces."

He was addressing the top military commanders after inaugurating the anti-missile radar in Russia's Baltic Exclave of Kaliningrad.

The Voronezh-DM radar station has been working in test mode for the whole of 2011. There were no technical failures over this period, Interfax news agency reported, quoting a source in the defence ministry.

With the effective detection range of 6,000 kilometres, the Voronezh-DM is capable of working in tandem with Moscow's missile defence system.

"If our signal is not heard, as I said on November 23, we will continue deploying other means of defence," Medvedev said in his televised remarks.

"When they tell us 'this is not meant against you,' I would like to say the following today - dear friends, this radar station that started its work today is also not meant against you. But it is meant for us and for the tasks that we set before us," Medvedev said.

Russia, which after the rejection of its idea of a common East-West missile defence system, is seeking legally binding guarantees from the US and NATO that the European AMD will not target Russian strategic nuclear assets.

**vector7** · December 16th, 2011, 17:52

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Russian missile chief: ‘We can nuke your AMD’

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Published: 16 December, 2011, 15:00

Topol missile system at a testing range in Russia’s Novosibirsk Region (RIA Novosti / Aleksandr Kryazhev)

TAGS: Arms, Military, Nuclear, Russia, Politics

Russian strategic missiles may target American anti-ballistic missile shield facilities in Europe, the commander of the Russian missile troops has warned.

*The missiles on duty have blank flight programs, but they can be promptly targeted at any destination, including the controversial European AMD sites, Lieutenant General Sergey Karakaev told journalists on Friday.

“There are no technical limitations on the use of strategic missiles. It would take very little time to select a new target and upload a new missile flight program,” he assured.

He added that “the combat use of missile troop forces is done on command of the Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces, while planning objectives for possible strikes is the job of the General Staff.”

The general also announced the military’s plans to create a new heavy silo-based liquid propellant strategic missile. It will “have improved capabilities to overcome multiple echelons of an anti-missile system” through the use of advanced design of the vehicle and its warhead as well as better fuel.

Karakaev stressed that the need for the new missile comes due to development of ABM technology by the United States.

“If the USA deploys space-based strike anti-ballistic missile forces, which is not excluded due to intensive research in that area it carries out, the potential of small solid propellant missiles would not be enough to overcome such a system,” he said. “In this situation deployment of a liquid propellant ICBM with a launch weigh about 100 tonnes is preferable, since it would be noticeably better than a solid propellant missile of a similar size in terms of the payload-to-weight ratio.”

He added that such a missile can be used to deliver conventional precision warheads and will still have a virtually global reach, which gives more options for Russia in warfare.

In the short-term period, the existing Topol-M and Yars ICBMs are capable of overcoming any challenges the strategic missile troops may face, the commander assured. He said that by year’s end, a quarter of the missiles deployed by Russia will be of these advanced designs. The near-total rearmament of the military is currently being carried out and will be finished by 2012.

The American plans to deploy its anti-missile sites in Europe are a long-standing point of conflict between Moscow and Washington. Russia wants legal guarantees that the system will not undermine its nuclear deterrence, which the US is reluctant to provide such assurances.

Lately Moscow has taken a tougher stance on the issue, opting for a military response to the threat, which politics is failing to address. It plans to deploy Iskander tactical missiles in Kaliningrad exclave, which would allow destruction of the future ABM facilities, should this be needed. President Medvedev also ordered defense ministry to develop further measures to counter the American system.

**American Patriot** · December 19th, 2011, 18:30

We can nuke your Ass....

**American Patriot** · December 19th, 2011, 18:30

We can nuke your Ass....

**American Patriot** · December 19th, 2011, 18:34

Something happened there. I posted it ONCE, and there was... megalag, and then it was there twice. And I didn't hit the button twice either!

**American Patriot** · December 19th, 2011, 20:11

mAYBE... MAYbe NOT.

lol

**vector7** · May 24th, 2012, 17:03

May 23, 2012 8:55 PM
Russia says it test-fired shield-proof missile

A column of Russia's Topol intercontinental ballistic missile launchers rolls during a rehearsal of the Victory Day Parade in Alabino, outside Moscow, on April 18, 2012. Russia recently test-fired a missile that similar to the Topol. (Getty Images)

(AP) MOSCOW - Russia on Wednesday successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile with an enhanced capability to penetrate missile defenses and commissioned a new early warning radar, the Defense Ministry said.

The first launch of the new missile was performed at the Plesetsk launchpad in northern Russia, the ministry said in a statement. It didn't give the name of the missile, but said it was fired from a mobile launcher.

Russia has viewed the planned U.S. led NATO missile defense system around Europe as a potential threat to its nuclear forces, rejecting the U.S. assurances that the shield is intended to counter an Iranian missile threat.

NATO has said it wants to cooperate with Russia on the missile shield, but has rejected Moscow's proposal to run it jointly. Without a NATO-Russia cooperation deal, the Kremlin has sought guarantees from the U.S. that any future missile defense is not aimed at Russia and threatened to take military countermeasures if no deal is reached.

NATO declares European missile shield up and running
Russia ups rhetoric over missile shield
Putin calls NATO "relic of the Cold War"

The ministry said the missile's practice warhead successfully reached a designated target at a range on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

"The new ICBM will strengthen the combat capability of the strategic missile forces thanks to its ability to penetrate prospective missile defense systems," the ministry said.

The military also said that it commissioned a new early warning radar on Wednesday. The Voronezh-M-type facility in Irkutsk has an improved range compared to older radars.

The military's Aerospace Defense Forces chief, Lt.-Gen. Oleg Ostapenko, praised its efficiency on a visit to the facility Wednesday, saying it would significantly enhance the military's capability to monitor missile launches.

**American Patriot** · May 24th, 2012, 17:43

Wasn't it E.E. Doc Smith's Lensman Series that used shields and beam weapons, that became progressively stronger and more complex, using beams inside of beams to finally defeat the shield armor?

Seems like we're in a new "Arms Race" to me...