Russia eyes additional measures to counter U.S. anti-missile threat

Xinhua News Agency
October 25, 2012

Russia eyes additional measures to counter U.S. anti-missile threat

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The anti-missile system would be technically capable of threathening
the Russian capital by 2020, Komoyedov said.

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MOSCOW: Russia needs to undertake additional measures to counter a
threat from the U.S. anti-missile system, a high-ranking parliament
member of Russia said here Thursday.

"Absolutely different things are necessary," head of the State Duma
Defense Committee Vladimir Komoyedov told reporters when asked if the
Russian Iskander missiles could surpass [neutralize] the U.S. missile
shield in Europe.

In 2011, then-President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Russia would
station Iskander tactic missiles in the western exclave of Kaliningrad
and southern Krasnodar region, should the United States implement its
phased approach to the anti-missile defense program.

The European Phased Adaptive Approach envisaged a four-step deployment
of the anti-missile facilities from 2011 to 2020 and moved the
sea-based Aegis systems closer to Russian borders.

The first two phases have already been completed and the third would
be finished in 2018.

The anti-missile system would be technically capable of threathening
the Russian capital by 2020, Komoyedov said.

"Development of the anti-missile defense consists of four phases. The
last one, to be completed by 2020, will cover (territory) including
Moscow," he said, adding that Russia possessed all the necessary
technologies and ability to face such developments.

In May, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Russia would
not need any additional means to fulfill that task as the existing
Iskander missiles are capable to neutralize the U.S. launching
facilities.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that the anti-missile issue may cause an
"ice age" in relations with the United States.

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