One new mobile Topol-M ICBM battalion has been made operational near the town of Teikovo (about 150 miles northeast of Moscow) in central Russia, according to a spokesman from the Russian Missile Forces on Tuesday.  Tuesday announcements brings the total number of Topol-M battalions operating to three. 

The Topol-M system has been designed to be resistant or impervious to the missile shield proposed by the United States.  According to Russian officials it is capable of withstanding a nuclear explosion within 500 meters, can take direct hit from laser weapons and can employ on-board countermeasures and evasive maneuvering while en route to its target. 

Because of its reputed high accuracy and cold-launch capability (it uses solid propellant and therefore can remain on alert for extended periods in a “ready-to-fire” state , without opportunities for early detection) the Topol-M is a first-strike, balance-of-power weapon.  It also is reported to feature a brief engine burn after take-off to minimize detection and tracking by satellite-based alert systems.

(This story comes by way of our friends at Naval Open Source Intelligence.)

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