MOSCOW. May 13 (Interfax) - A measurement system has been upgraded at the Kapustin Yar test range to conduct tests of advanced weapons, the Information Department of the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The modernization of the range's measurement complex to carry out tests of prospective samples of weapons has now been completed," it said.
For this work, the range "has been fully equipped with advanced measurement systems," it said.
In addition, "an information and measurement support system for tests, which makes it possible to provide news and analytical information in real time about pre-launch preparations and missile flights to the central command point of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces [RVSN]," has been built, it said.
The range, which marks its 74th anniversary today, hosted the first tests of domestically designed ballistic missiles, as well as the launches of the first spacecraft, which paved the way for human space flights. The site currently accommodates the main research and test units of weapons and military hardware of the RVSN, the Missile Forces and artillery, the Air Defense Forces of the Aerospace Forces and Ground Forces. There is also the Sary-Shagan test range located in Kazakhstan.
The experimental and testing infrastructure facilities and the sites of the Kapustin Yar range are located in four regions of Russia (the Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, and Orenburg regions) and in five regions of Kazakhstan (the West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, Karaganda, Kyzylorda, and Zhambyl regions) on land plots with the total area of almost 9.5 million hectares.
The test courses and the measurement complex of the Kapustin Yar test range make it possible to test military hardware, including "its prospective configurations within the whole range of possible conditions of its delivery to the targets in the interests of the RVSN," the Russian Defense Ministry said.The ministry said earlier that elements and systems of national missile defense are being tested on the Kapustin Yar - Balkhash track.