Russia will by 2020 replace its Soviet-era arsenal with new nuclear-capable intercontinental missiles that can overcome defence systems like the US missile shield, the military said Wednesday.
“By 2015-2020 the Russian strategic rocket forces will have new complete missile systems with improved combat characteristics,” General Nikolai Solovtsov told reporters at a briefing in the Moscow region.
“They will be capable of carrying out any tasks, including in conditions where an enemy uses anti-missile defence measures,” said Solovtsov, the overall commander of Russia”s missile forces, quoted by Russian news agencies.
Russia is working hard to upgrade its elderly missile forces and has repeatedly tested new missiles in recent months amid the controversy over the missile shield.
“Basically his comments mean almost all Soviet-made or 1990s intercontinental ballistic missiles will be withdrawn and scrapped by 2020,” leading Russian defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer told AFP.
“The missile force will be much slimmer than the present one, which is still a leftover from the Cold War and Soviet times,” he added.
The refurbishment of the missile forces comes amid Russian fury at the US plan to install missile defence facilities in central Europe, despite US assurances that the system is not directed against Moscow.
Washington plans to put an anti-missile radar facility in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland, both ex-Soviet bloc countries which are now NATO members.
