Tests New ICBM, Cruise Missile

For those of you who may long for the days of the Cold War between the United States and Russia -- at least compared with today's global fight against terrorists -- the following story may provide a bit of nostalgia. It may also be more than a little disquieting.

Russia announced Tuesday it tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile, that a Kremlin official boasted could penetrate any defense system -- most notably, those now being tested by the US. The test comes as belligerant Russian president Vladimir Putin warned US plans for an anti-missile shield over Europe would result in a "powder keg."

"We consider it harmful and dangerous to turn Europe into a powder keg and to fill it with new kinds of weapons," Putin said at a news conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, according to The Associated Press, shortly before the announcement of the successful ICBM test.

"As of today, Russia has new tactical and strategic complexes that are capable of overcoming any existing or future missile defense systems," First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency. "So in terms of defense and security, Russians can look calmly to the country's future."

They may be the only ones who are calm. The test RS-24 ICBM reportedly sent its dummy warhead 3,400 miles, where it landed on target on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Russian arms control expert Alexander Pikayev said the new missile looks to be part of the country's promised response to missile defense plans, as Russia seeks to strengthen its nuclear capabilities after the "significant downsizing" following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Ivanov -- a former defense minister, viewed as a possible replacement for Putin next year -- also announced the successful "preliminary" test of a tactical cruise missile, designed to be launched from a mobile Iskander-M launcher.

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces stressed the tests conformed to the limitations spelled out in the START-I treaty, as well as the 2002 Moscow Treaty calling for reductions in both US and Russian warhead arsenals.

Harvard University analyst Matthew Bunn echoed that claim, saying the missile test was "in line with Russia's renewed emphasis in recent years of maintaining their weapons systems after years of decline."

Still... did it just get a bit chilly in here? Brrr...

FMI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Rocket_Forces