MOSCOW. Oct 4 (Interfax-AVN) - Space Troops Commander Anatoly Perminov said on Friday that the forces under his control were accomplishing strategic missions in the interests of the Armed Forces and other law-enforcement agencies.
"Today systems and assets of the Russian Space Troops successfully accomplish missions of national and strategic importance in the interests of the Armed Forces, other law- enforcement agencies, the majority of ministers and departments and the nation's social and economic development," Perminov told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"All components of the Space Troops develop and enhance their combat capabilities in line with a decision of the Russian Security Council passed on January 21, 2001 and subsequently approved by the president, and the State Armament Program for 2001 to 2010," he said.
"A tendency towards restoration of the military-purpose orbital grouping has become stable," the commander went on. He stressed that infrastructure of Russian cosmodromes necessary for preparing and launching future booster rockets of light, medium and heavy classes was developing.
"The Titov main center of spacecraft testing and control exercises stable control over the country's orbital grouping. Systems of missile and space defense guarantee accomplishment of combat missions," Perminov said.
"Thanks to it, the authority of the Space Troops in the society, state governing bodies and the Armed Forces is growing," he said.
According to Perminov, the Space Troops have effected 11 launches of booster rockets and supported launches of another five rockets this year. "A test launch of an anti-missile rocket was effected successfully on the eve of the holiday," he said.
President Vladimir Putin made October 4 Space Troops Day. He signed a corresponding decree on Thursday.
The Space Troops include the commander's administration, the Plesetsk, Baikonur and Svobodny cosmodromes with spacecraft testing and application centers, a separate large missile and space defense unit, missile and space defense units, several R&D institutes and academies.