The missile that does not care

Posted on: Feb. 14th, 2006 || Source: en.rian.ru | E-mail Article | Print Article

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Andrei Kislyakov.) - This year shows little prospect for a much needed Russian-U.S. missile defense treaty. The American ballistic missile defense system, credible though increasingly costly, is going to become operational within years. New Russian missiles could penetrate it now - if it were in place.

On January 19, Lieutenant General Henry A. Obering III, Missile Defense Agency Director, touted a successful static test firing of the second stage rocket motor for the future Kinetic Energy Interceptor, the antimissile to be commissioned in the early 2010s and a key element in a ballistic missile shield.

Late last year, the Boeing-led Airborne Laser team delivered on Boeing's commitment to strengthen the 10-crew Alaska-based interceptor group by announcing the successful completion of a series of tests involving a high energy laser at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

A credible capability indeed, but, as Russian President Vladimir Putin told the marathon Kremlin news conference last month, Russia has missiles that don't care.

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