Russian military successfully test modernized anti-ballistic missile
MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax) - A modernized anti-ballistic missile has been successfully tested at the Sary-Shagan range in Kazakhstan, the Russian Defense Ministry's newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda said on Monday.
"A crew of the Aerospace Forces' air and missile defense forces has successfully performed another test-launch of a modernized missile of the Russian missile defense system at the Sary-Shagan range in Kazakhstan," the newspaper said.
The modernized anti-ballistic missile accomplished the mission and hit the target with the required, deputy commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces' (special) air and missile defense formation Col. Andrei Prikhodko said.
Being a key element of defense, the missile defense system is operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces' air and missile defense formation as means protecting Moscow from aerospace attacks. It also used as a missile attack warning and space surveillance network.
"We have successfully performed another test-launch of a modernized anti-ballistic missile; the trial program has come to a close. The missile's performance characteristics, such as the range, precision, and life cycle, significantly exceed properties of missiles currently in use," the newspaper quoted Prikhodko as saying.
This anti-ballistic missile, just like any other missile defense component undergoing modernization, will ensure reliable protection of the designated sector, he said.
"This includes solo and massive missile strikes, among them those involving next-generation intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying various types of penetration aids," Prikhodko said.