Russian nuclear missiles still detargeted, this doesn't affect combat readiness - RVSN commander
VLASIKHA, Moscow region. Dec 16 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia strictly complies with international agreements on mutual detargeting of nuclear missiles, Russian Strategic Rocket Forces Commander Col. Gen. Sergei Karakayev told journalists on Tuesday.
"This move [a zero flight program] is symbolic because time required to retarget complexes in line with operative plans of their use is no more than a few minutes," Karakayev said on the eve of the 55th anniversary of RVSN celebrated on December 17.
"A number of agreements on mutual detargeting of intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads were signed in 1994. The first of such agreements was singed with the United States in January 1994, next one [was signed] with China fours month ago," he said.
"In May 1994, RVSN switched to combat duty with detargeted missiles, the so-called zero flight program, in line with the presidential decree dated March 22, 1994," he said.
"Nothing has changed ever since, our missiles still have zero flight programs," Karakayev stressed.