MOSCOW. July 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The Bryansk central repair plant of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) is getting ready to destroy the third launcher of a railway-based missile system, a source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Production facilities for destroying mobile railway-based launchers whose service life has expired have been created in Bryansk in the framework of the START-1 treaty with the help of the United States. The first launcher was destroyed on June 16 and the second one on July 11. The third launcher is being prepared for destruction. A railway-based missile system comprises three launchers," the source said.
The SMF press service confirmed that the third launcher will be destroyed from July 28 to August 1.
"The service life of the launchers has expired and they were handed over to the scrapping facility in Bryansk after missiles were unloaded from them. Destruction of the first railway-based launcher started in May 2003 in compliance with approved plans," a press service official said.
The scrapping is taking place in compliance with procedures stipulated by the START-1 treaty and is controlled by a U.S. inspection team, the official said. The SMF center for supporting treaties implementation provides support to the team.
"The procedures related to destroying a railway-based launcher will be completed on August 1 and the report on its destruction will be signed," the official said.
According to him, permanent control is maintained over technological and environmental security of the destruction process. Only the components related to the launchers' strategic use are destroyed during the process. Vacated materials and assets of dual purpose will be later used in the interests of other Russian ministries and agencies.
A total of six launchers of railway-based missile systems are to be destroyed this year, the official said.