Defense

Russian missile launch was “routine”

As if what's going on in Ukraine weren't enough, the Russian military on Tuesday test-fired a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile, fired from ...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

March 10, 2014 5:13 pm

< a min read

As if what’s going on in Ukraine weren’t enough, the Russian military on Tuesday test-fired a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile, fired from a launch pad in southern Russia, hit a designated target on a range leased by Russia from Kazakhstan. The National Security Council says, “This was a previously notified and routine test launch of an ICBM. As required under the New START Treaty, Russia provided advance notification of this launch to the United States. Such advance notifications are intended to provide transparency, confidence, and predictability and to help both sides avoid misunderstandings. Russia and the United States routinely flight test their ICBMs and SLBMs.”