‘Wakeup Call’: Russia Tests New ICBM, Claiming It Can Overcome All Missile Defense Systems n early March, the Pentagon postponed a long-planned ICBM test to ensure the launch of the 1970s-era projectile was not misinterpreted by Russia and “to demonstrate that we are a responsible nuclear power.”
Observing the test launch of a newly-developed Russian ICBM on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin had a message of his own, calling it “a wakeup call for those who are trying to threaten our country in the frenzy of rabid, aggressive rhetoric.”
The Pentagon played down the significance of the launch, calling it routine, unthreatening, and confirming that the U.S. had been advised beforehand in line with the 2010 New START Treaty. The treaty requires notification of the launch of a nuclear-capable intercontinental or submarine-launched ballistic missile at least 24 hours in advance of the launch window.
“Such testing is routine and was not a surprise,” said Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. “We did not deem the test to be a threat to the United States or its allies.”
Russia’s defense ministry said the Sarmat ICBM, with “inert” (non-explosive) warheads, had been launched Wednesday afternoon local time from the Plesetsk spaceport about 500 miles north of Moscow and landed in the designated target range in Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka peninsula (about 3,600 miles away.)
“The launch’s tasks were achieved in full,” it said. “The designated characteristics were confirmed at all the stages of its flight.”....
he Sarmat ICBM was launched from a spaceport about 500 miles north of Moscow and landed in a target range in the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula, about 3,600 miles away. (Google Maps)
https://www.cnsnews.com/article/international/patrick-goodenough/wakeup-call-russia-tests-new-icbm-claiming-it-can-overcome
