Russia's military exercise fires four missiles, one failed
PLA Daily 2004-02-19
MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia launched four missiles Wednesday as part of its ongoing military exercise, but one of them was self-destructed after veering off course.
A Molnia communication satellite and an intercontinental ballistic missile were launched from Plesetsk cosmodrome, a strategic RS-18 (Stiletto) missile was launched from Baikonur cosmodrome, the Space Force said.
However, the RSM-54 ballistic missile deviated from its plannedtrack shortly after the flight and was self-destructed, the Itar-Tass news agency cited Russian Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo as reporting.
The spokesman said that the missile began to veer off trajectory 98 seconds after it was launched by the Karelia nuclear-powered submarine in the Barents Sea and the self-liquidation system triggered itself.
The official did not explain why the missile went off course, just saying that an investigation into the accident was underway.
The Defense Ministry confirmed that the incident caused no damage or casualties, assuming that a problem with the guidance system might have caused the missile's deviation from trajectory, the Interfax news agency reported.
All the missile launches are a part of the ongoing show of force that involves all branches of the military and has been saidto be the largest of its kind in the post-Soviet times.
Russian President Putin, who watched the Northern Fleet maneuvers in the Barents Sea aboard a submarine Tuesday, continuedto observe the space launches Wednesday in the Plesetsk cosmodromein a clear attempt to strengthen his undisputed lead in the March 14 presidential election.
But Wednesday's launch accident, along with another incident Tuesday in which the crew of another submarine failed to launch atleast one ballistic missile, is seen as a big embarrassment for the military and Putin.
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