Border.

This sis coolbert:

From MARCO POLO through Harry at Sharkhunters we have another instance of a possible Russian violation of the INF Treaty.

"On March 18, the Russians succeeded in the test launch of their new light-weight ICBM -- RS-26 'Rubezh [Border] -- at the Kapustin Yar rocket launch site in Astrakhan(southern Russia). Several minutes after the launch, the missile's warhead dropped right on its target at the Sary Shagan range in Kazakhstan."

"The 'Rubezh' is said to be smaller and lighter than Russia's regular ICBMs, such as 'Topol-M' and 'Yars'. It is about 80 meters long, and its launch weight is about 80 tons. The missile is highly mobile. It is loaded on a 12-wheeled, diesel-powered TEL, which boasts cross-country mobility."

 

"With its announced range of 5,800 kilometers, without a doubt, it is targeted against western Europe."

 

"the INF treaty, concluded between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1988, the ballistic and cruise missiles with the range of 500 -- 5,500 kilometers are banned. Although the RS-26 is officially an ICBM with its announced range of 5,800 kilometers, it is likely that this range is that of the single-warhead version of the missile. The multiple-warhead version of the missile is likely to have a somewhat shorter range, infringing upon the provisions of the INF treaty . . .  there is no NATO name yet for this missile."

That INF treaty outlawing the possession and even TESTING of intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

"Rubezh" barely having a range to qualify it as an inter-continental range missile WITH A SINGLE WARHEAD.

WITH MULTIPLE ATOMIC WARHEADS "RUBEZH" HAVING A REDUCED RANGE AND OUTLAWED BY THE INF TREATY?

In large measure the INF treaty as response to the Soviet era SS-20 intermediate-range missile WHICH CARRIED THREE 500 KILOTON WARHEADS. That American counter-part to the SS-20 the Pershing-2 able to deliver on target a SINGLE 25 kiloton atomic warhead!

coolbert.