MOSCOW, November 3 (AVN) - Decision upon possibility of prolongation of the RS-18 (SS-19 Stilet) inter-continental ballistic missile system lifetime for one year will be made on the basis of recent launch successfully conducted by the Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), a source in the SMF Staff told the Military News Agency.
The combat training launch was made Wednesday on the Baikonur state test space port. The missile was on combat duty in an SMF unit for 25 years. This was the 87th launch of the RS-18 missiles.
The launch of the missile in a single warhead version proved the SMF were ready to fulfil START-2 Russia's international obligations and reliability of the system itself, Army General Vladimir Yakovlev, the SMF commander said. Its possible to gradually prolong the term of the RS-18 service for several years.
According to the START-2 treaty, Russia can have 105 such type missiles. Their warheads can be unloaded without any technical problems. Then they will continue to be on duty, but in the single warhead variant. The missiles, which are to be written off from the SMF, can be used as conversion Rokot light class boosters. The first successful launch of such a rocket was made on May 16 this year from the Plesetsk space port.