(Reuters) - Russia for the first time test-launched a strategic missile to the equatorial part (near us) of the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, a navy spokesman said.
The spokesman said a Sineva missile had been launched from the nuclear-powered submarine Tula in the Arctic Barents Sea in the course of military exercises observed by President Dmitry Medvedev.
"For the first time in the history of the Russian navy, the target of the missile was in an equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean rather than the Kura testing ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula," he said.
Consider their Spy network and activities were here many years ago.
ts spell wrong lar
anws. russian military might may prove to be decisive factor in the years ahead. depends on who's at the top of course. and how the other nations play the game.
but its really still quite impressive.
Russia's return is something that most military and political analysts have been looking out for ever since Putin's policies reshaped it.
Whether, its a decisive factor remains to be seen since the American military power is still a force to be reckoned with in terms of quantity and quality. Russia will require force projection capabilities which is still lacking today. Its single carrier is hardly enough striking power to take on a single USN CVBG.
Its air force and army's performance in Georgia also leaves their credibility in doubt. Its still arguable whether the Russian units involved in the conflict represented their current A-team.
Looking ahead, Russia will probably periodically remind the Europeans and Americans with a little flexing of the military muscle. It serves to re-establish Russia's position in international politics and how the EU and Americans deal with her interests in the Caucusus and Middle East, and internally, to revive the Russian Pride lost ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Russia needs to be treated with respect. Though their military may not be supreme yet, they are still capable of disrupting normalities and stability that the West have come to be dependent upon.
Russian is no longer being view as a traditional bad guy unlike the cold war....so certainly will have greater influence globally.
I think the sealane and air space are getting smaller when these giants like China, India, EU, Russia, and US are competing for resources.
it would be interesting to see if any influence over south china sea.
I'm sure we will have exercises with the Russian Navy soon. We like to engage interested parties into multilateral arrangements.
hmmm I wonder if we can get ship tours....?