In 2011, Russia will conduct 10 ballistic missile launches

Ten combat-training and test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles are planned to be carried out in 2011 by the Strategic Missile Forces. In addition, in the Strategic Missile Forces over the past three years, all the deputy commanders have changed, as well as the commanders of the rocket armies and divisions.

"Ten different launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles are planned for 2011, including three launches of the RS-12M Topol missiles, four PC-18 launches and three launches of the latest RS-24 missiles," the press said -secretary of the management of the press service and information of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the Strategic Missile Forces Colonel Vadim Koval.

He noted that test launches are carried out in the framework of development work on the creation of promising samples of rocket technology, and combat training launches are usually combined with working out the tasks of extending the service life of missiles on duty.

Koval reminded that in 2010, the Strategic Missile Forces conducted five launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Including the launch of the RS-20В "Voevoda" rocket (according to the Western classification "Satan") from the position area of ​​the Yasnensky missile division (Orenburg region) in order to confirm the rocket flight performance and extend the service life of the "Voevoda" missile system to 23 years . Two launchings of the RS-20B rocket (from the Baikonur cosmodrome and from the position area of ​​the Yasnensky division) were also carried out using the Dnipro conversion program with launching spacecraft into near-earth orbit.

In 2010, two launchings of the PC-12M Topol missiles were also carried out. Including one from the Plesetsk cosmodrome (Arkhangelsk region); the second - from the Kapustin Yar test site in order to confirm the stability of the main flight technical characteristics of missiles of this class during the extended service life, as well as working out measuring instruments of various types of measuring complexes in the interests of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the next test of combat equipment of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

In addition, as Vadim Koval told Interfax, the average age of the formation commanders has decreased over the past three years from 46 to 44 years, and regimental commanders from 40 to 38 years. "During the same period, one hundred percent of the deputy commanders of the Strategic Missile Forces, the commanders of the unions and the commanders of the formations, 92% of the regimental commanders, were reappointed," he said

He noted that the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the officers of the Strategic Missile Forces can solve the tasks of maintaining alertness. "The officers of the 61 nationality serve in the units and formations, 98% of them have higher education. The average age of officers is less than 33 years, and 45% of officers are under the age of 30 years," Koval said.