Translated material
Our answer to Safeguard
Dmitry Medvedev outlined measures to counter US missile defense in Europe
Versions of Russia's response to the deployment of the American missile defense system in Europe, which have long been circulating among journalists and among experts, were confirmed yesterday by President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Dmitry Medvedev in his message to the Federal Assembly . Moreover, in reality, this answer to “Safeguard,” as the American missile defense system was originally called, may turn out to be both broader and more powerful.Firstly, Iskander operational-tactical missile systems (OTRK) can actually be deployed in the Kaliningrad region . The president did not say how many of them will be stationed there, but experts talk about the formation of at least three divisions.
The Iskander OTRK has a range of up to 280 km and is capable of effectively hitting aircraft at airfields, control and communications centers, important facilities, and most importantly, enemy fire weapons, including missile defense. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the complex’s guided missile is capable of flying along a difficult-to-predict trajectory, that is, it maneuvers very energetically. Each Iskander self-propelled launcher carries two missiles; the complex can covertly fire at two completely different targets with an interval of one minute.
Secondly, if necessary, a somewhat reoriented part of the Baltic Fleet forces will be involved in neutralizing the missile defense base in Poland and the radar in the Czech Republic.
Thirdly, electronic suppression of American missile defense facilities will come from the same Kaliningrad region. This is a very strong move. Even US military operations against Iran, according to knowledgeable people in Russian military intelligence, did not begin largely due to the presence of powerful electronic warfare (EW) weapons in the Iranians. In our defense-industrial complex, after the president’s speech, hopes for the speedy creation of an electronic warfare holding on the basis of Defense Systems were revived.
And finally, fourthly, the Russian armed forces will review plans to remove from combat duty three regiments of the strategic missile forces division stationed in Kozelsk, Kaluga Region, near the Optina Pustyn - so far the most western in this type of armed forces (unless, of course, no agreement will be reached with Belarus on the deployment of our strategic missiles there). Several years ago, it was decided to liquidate this Strategic Missile Forces unit in 2010.
The Kozel division is armed with the RS-18 (according to the Western classification SS-19) “Stiletto” silo-based complexes. The rocket scientists also call it “Sotka”. Its firing range is more than 10 thousand km, in the multiple warhead there are six warheads with a total power of 3300 kt (for comparison, a 13 kt bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945), the accuracy of destruction is 350 m. October 22 of this year An intercontinental rocket of the Stilet complex UR-100N UTTH was successfully launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome. As a result, it was decided to keep missiles of this type on combat duty at least until 2030.
The head of state emphasized that the listed measures are forced, because “unfortunately, they don’t want to listen to us.” Although experts are already saying that the new US President Barack Obama may well cancel the agreement on the deployment of missile defense in Eastern Europe.