Russia extends life of Topol missile

Apr 10,2009 00:00 by UPI

TEIKOVO, Russia -- Russia launched a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile Friday in a test to assure that it can stay in service for another 22 years, an official said.

"The dummy warhead has hit a designated target at the Kura testing grounds on the Kamchatka peninsula with the required precision," said Col. Alexander Vovk, a spokesman for the 54th Strategic Missile Division near the town of Teikovo, about 150 miles northeast of Moscow.

The RS-12M Topol has a maximum range of 6,125 miles and can carry a 550-kiloton nuclear warhead.