Russia to test-fire two more Topol ICBM in Kazakhstan - source

Russia plans to test-fire two more intercontinental ballistic missilesin March, which should comply with a 1992 agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia on using Kazakhstan's test ranges and a 2014 plan for test launches signed on November 29, 2013, the Kazakh Defense Ministry said in a statement. "According to this plan, three missile test launches are scheduled for March this year," it said. The first of these launches, during which Russia test-fired a Topol-E ballistic missile, took place at midnight, Astana time, on March 5, 2014. 

The Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN) test-fired an RS-12M Topol intercontinental ballistic missile from the Kapustin Yar central multi-service range in the Astrakhan region at 10:10 pm Moscow time (6:10 pm GMT) on Tuesday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman for the RVSN Col. Igor Yegorov said.

The test was successful as the simulated warhead hit a designated target at a test range in Kazakhstan.

Yegorov said the aim of the test was to test suggested improvements of the ICBM, which entered service in 1985.

A Defense Ministry spokesman said in early January that the Russian military plans to test around 70 types of rocket and missile weaponry at Kapustin Yar this year.

The testing program at the Kapustin Yar range in southern Russia will include about 300 launches of rockets, missiles, and aerial drones as part of more than 180 R&D projects, said Colonel Igor Yegorov.

The range is located in the Astrakhan region between the cities of Volgograd and Astrakhan.

It is known for tests of Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles, S-300 and S-400 air defense systems and Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems.

The RS-12M Topol (NATO reporting name SS-25 Sickle) is a single-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile that has a maximum range of 10,000 kilometers (6,125 miles) and can carry a nuclear warhead with a yield of up to 550 kilotons.

The White House called Russia's test launch on Tuesday of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile "routine" and said the United States was given advanced notification, as required under the New START treaty.