Russia's strategic missile forces, navy and air force units carried out a large-scale nuclear-weapons exercise on 3 October, including the launch of land-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and air-launched cruise missiles.
Cruise missiles were launched from Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire, Tu-95MSBear and Tu-160 Blackjack bombers as part of the exercise. A land-mobile RS-12MTopol missile was fired from the Plesetsk test range, while submarine-launched missiles were fired from Murena (Delta I) and Calmar (Delta III) boats.
Launch orders were given by Col Gen Vladimir Yakovlev, the strategic missile forces commander, from an airborne command post. According to the strategic missile forces, all the missiles hit within their specified target areas.
The US Air Force will select in December the US contractor team which will be responsible for engineering and maintenance of the USA's ICBMs for the next two decades. Competing for the contract, worth more than $5 billion, are teams led by Alliant Techsystems and TRW, both of which have extensive expertise in the field.
The ICBM prime-integration contract involves weapon-system engineering and maintenance, including repairs, system test, and upgrade of propellant and guidance systems for both the Minuteman III and Peacekeeper weapon systems. The competitors submitted their bids in August. Work begins on 1 February, 1998.
Source: Flight International
