Dec. 16, 2004
RIA Novosti
VLASIKHA (Moscow Region), December 16 (RIA Novosti) - A fourth missile regiment, armed with new Topol-M silo-based missile systems, was put on alert, Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces Nikolai Solovtsov told reporters.
"I can tell you that another regiment armed with Topol-M silo-based missiles has been put on full alert," he said and added that each regiment had 10 missile systems. The Strategic Missile Force currently has 40 silo-based missile systems on alert.
He also said that the force would continue to use Voyevoda missiles for another 10-15 years.
"A combat missile system equipped with Voyevoda missiles [classified as Satan in the West] can be used for another 10-15 years," he said, and therefore the Strategic Missile Forces will continue to use them for this period."
He said that this was primarily possible by extending the missile's service life.
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5218673&startrow=1&date=2004-12-16&do_alert=0