Russia deployed 36 new types of arms, this year: Defence Minister

Moscow, Aug 4 (UNI) Russian Armed Forces commissioned 36 new types of advanced weapon systems in the first half of the present year, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said ''Thirty-six types of modern weaponry were deployed with the Armed Forces in the first half of 2007,'' Mr Seryukov said.

He said these weapon systems included the submarine-launched R-29RM Sineva ballistic missiles, the S-400 Triumf air defence complex, and the 120-mm Nona SM-1 towed mortar for Ground Forces.

The R-29RM Sineva (NATO codename SS-N-23) was designed for use by the Russian Delta IV class submarines, each of which is capable of carrying 16 missiles. It carries four nuclear warheads and has a range of about 8,500 kilometers.

Mr Serdyukov also said Russia successfully conducted test launches of the Yarts land-based ballistic missile, the Bulava sea-launched ballistic missile and the X-102 airborne missile.

''We have entered the final testing stage for the entire missile triad,'' RIA Novosti news agency said.

Russia also successfully tested a new version of the Iskander-M ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads and launched two military reconnaissance and communication satellites, Mr Serdyukov added.

UNI