US again suspects Russia of violating the treaty on medium and shorter range missiles
Discussion of an important international issue began again in the United States. A number of American experts suspect Russia of developing medium-range ballistic missiles, which contradicts the existing Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, signed at the end of 1987. In accordance with this agreement, the United States and the USSR, and then Russia, pledged to destroy all existing ground-based short-range ballistic and cruise missiles and not to create new weapons of these classes. American experts believe that the recent actions of the Russian defense industry violate the terms of the existing treaty.
According to the American newspaper The New York Times, the US leadership is concerned about the current situation and not so long ago passed the necessary information to other NATO countries. According to information available to the United States, Russia has been conducting tests of a new ballistic missile suitable for attack targets at a distance of less than 2008 kilometers since 5500, due to which this product can be attributed to medium-range missiles prohibited by the existing treaty.
Launch of Topol-E ICBM, Kapustin Yar test site, 107, 2009 site (processed photo from http://militaryphotos.net)
Available information on the latest domestic strategic missile projects allows us to understand which of them was the cause for concern of American politicians. Most likely, analysts from the United States are referring to the Frontend RS-26 missile system, which is currently undergoing tests. The ballistic missile of this complex is capable of hitting targets at a distance of at least 6000-6500 kilometers. At the same time, there is information about the possibility of attacking enemy objects at smaller distances. So, in October 2012, an experienced Rubezh rocket launched from the Kapustin Yar test site hit the training target at the Sary-Shagan test site. The distance between these two polygons is approximately two thousand kilometers, which directly indicates the characteristics of the range of the new rocket.
In the foreign press, information about a new Russian rocket capable of hitting targets at medium ranges appeared in May last year. On the eve of the visit of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States M. Dempsey to Moscow, The Washington Free Beacon published material in which, among other things, some new Russian medium-range missile was mentioned. Information about the existence of this project, contrary to the existing contract, was obtained from intelligence sources. The publication of the American newspaper caused unrest in certain circles, but over the next few months there was no official reaction.
In November last year, the topic of Russia's creation of certain missiles falling under the prohibition of contract, again became the object of attention of the foreign press. Then the American edition of The Daily Beast, citing sources close to the US government, reported on the current situation around controversial Russian projects. According to sources, the official Washington learned about the existence of a new missile with controversial characteristics as early as 2012, and took some measures.
The State Department and the Pentagon held a special session in the Congress, the theme of which was the new Russian rocket and the legal consequences of the appearance of such weapons. According to The Daily Beast, US officials have sharply reacted to information about Russia's possible violation of the agreement on the elimination of medium-range and shorter-range missiles, but did not make loud statements. All further discussions with the Russian side were conducted through diplomatic channels without disclosing any information.
Also in November last year, it became aware of the new requirements of the Congress. Congressmen expressed a desire to receive a detailed report in 2014, the subject of which would be Russia's observance of the terms of the existing treaty banning several classes of missiles. The situation will be reviewed by State Department specialists.
In the middle of last year, the head of the presidential administration S. Ivanov added fuel to the fire. He stated that the existing treaty on medium-range and shorter-range missiles is controversial and cannot continue indefinitely. Ivanov did not call for withdrawal from the treaty, but noted that he did not understand his goals. In addition, he touched on the topic of the proliferation of medium and short range missiles. In recent years, a specific situation has arisen in which several developing countries already have missiles of similar classes, and the United States and Russia cannot use such weapons because they are bound by an existing treaty.
The Russian side has not yet made official statements about the American charges. At the same time, our country has every reason to consider the charges baseless and far-fetched. The PC-26 rocket, which triggered a specific reaction from American politicians, is intercontinental, as it can hit targets at distances over 5500 kilometers. As for the launch, held in the fall of 2012, the lack of information does not allow for an assessment of this event. Nevertheless, there is no reason to consider the PC-26 a medium-range missile, in favor of which is shown by its maximum flight range.
A few years ago it was claimed that the new strategic missile RS-26 "Frontier" would be adopted no later than 2013. Now we can talk about a shift in the timing of the adoption of this product, which is why the new rocket will be on duty at least this year. Thus, in the very near future, disputes over the new Russian rocket will continue, and the question of its classification and, as a result, compliance with existing international treaties, will remain open.
On the materials of the sites:
http://nytimes.com/
http://freebeacon.com/
http://newsru.com/
http://bbc.co.uk/
According to the American newspaper The New York Times, the US leadership is concerned about the current situation and not so long ago passed the necessary information to other NATO countries. According to information available to the United States, Russia has been conducting tests of a new ballistic missile suitable for attack targets at a distance of less than 2008 kilometers since 5500, due to which this product can be attributed to medium-range missiles prohibited by the existing treaty.
Launch of Topol-E ICBM, Kapustin Yar test site, 107, 2009 site (processed photo from http://militaryphotos.net)
Available information on the latest domestic strategic missile projects allows us to understand which of them was the cause for concern of American politicians. Most likely, analysts from the United States are referring to the Frontend RS-26 missile system, which is currently undergoing tests. The ballistic missile of this complex is capable of hitting targets at a distance of at least 6000-6500 kilometers. At the same time, there is information about the possibility of attacking enemy objects at smaller distances. So, in October 2012, an experienced Rubezh rocket launched from the Kapustin Yar test site hit the training target at the Sary-Shagan test site. The distance between these two polygons is approximately two thousand kilometers, which directly indicates the characteristics of the range of the new rocket.
In the foreign press, information about a new Russian rocket capable of hitting targets at medium ranges appeared in May last year. On the eve of the visit of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States M. Dempsey to Moscow, The Washington Free Beacon published material in which, among other things, some new Russian medium-range missile was mentioned. Information about the existence of this project, contrary to the existing contract, was obtained from intelligence sources. The publication of the American newspaper caused unrest in certain circles, but over the next few months there was no official reaction.
In November last year, the topic of Russia's creation of certain missiles falling under the prohibition of contract, again became the object of attention of the foreign press. Then the American edition of The Daily Beast, citing sources close to the US government, reported on the current situation around controversial Russian projects. According to sources, the official Washington learned about the existence of a new missile with controversial characteristics as early as 2012, and took some measures.
The State Department and the Pentagon held a special session in the Congress, the theme of which was the new Russian rocket and the legal consequences of the appearance of such weapons. According to The Daily Beast, US officials have sharply reacted to information about Russia's possible violation of the agreement on the elimination of medium-range and shorter-range missiles, but did not make loud statements. All further discussions with the Russian side were conducted through diplomatic channels without disclosing any information.
Also in November last year, it became aware of the new requirements of the Congress. Congressmen expressed a desire to receive a detailed report in 2014, the subject of which would be Russia's observance of the terms of the existing treaty banning several classes of missiles. The situation will be reviewed by State Department specialists.
In the middle of last year, the head of the presidential administration S. Ivanov added fuel to the fire. He stated that the existing treaty on medium-range and shorter-range missiles is controversial and cannot continue indefinitely. Ivanov did not call for withdrawal from the treaty, but noted that he did not understand his goals. In addition, he touched on the topic of the proliferation of medium and short range missiles. In recent years, a specific situation has arisen in which several developing countries already have missiles of similar classes, and the United States and Russia cannot use such weapons because they are bound by an existing treaty.
The Russian side has not yet made official statements about the American charges. At the same time, our country has every reason to consider the charges baseless and far-fetched. The PC-26 rocket, which triggered a specific reaction from American politicians, is intercontinental, as it can hit targets at distances over 5500 kilometers. As for the launch, held in the fall of 2012, the lack of information does not allow for an assessment of this event. Nevertheless, there is no reason to consider the PC-26 a medium-range missile, in favor of which is shown by its maximum flight range.
A few years ago it was claimed that the new strategic missile RS-26 "Frontier" would be adopted no later than 2013. Now we can talk about a shift in the timing of the adoption of this product, which is why the new rocket will be on duty at least this year. Thus, in the very near future, disputes over the new Russian rocket will continue, and the question of its classification and, as a result, compliance with existing international treaties, will remain open.
On the materials of the sites:
http://nytimes.com/
http://freebeacon.com/
http://newsru.com/
http://bbc.co.uk/
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