A new regiment of Russia's Topol-M ballistic missile systems will join active duty on Tuesday, thestrategic missile force's spokesman has said. The first two regiments, each equipped with 10 missile launchers, had joined the Tatischevo Military Base in 1998 and 1999 respectively, the AVN Military News Agency reported on Monday. Russian military officials said they expected the 47-tonne Topol-M to become the backbone of Russia's strategic nuclear force.
According to the Russian military, the Topol-M missiles, part of a new generation of intercontinental weapons, are capable of evading all anti-missile systems currently in use or in development.
Six test flights of intercontinental missiles were successfully launched this year, among them three Topol-M missiles, military officials said last month. Bureau Report