AFP,
Russia put on active duty Sunday a fourth regiment equipped with the new generation Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile as its defence minister reiterated that nuclear capability was a core element of national security.
The regiment, which has six Topol-M missile complexes, was inaugurated at a ceremony in the central Saratov region attended by Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and commander of Russia's strategic missile forces, General Nikolai Solovstov.
“Putting this regiment on active duty as part of our missile forces shows the unwavering commitment of this country's leadership to maintain our strategic nuclear potential,” Ivanov was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS.
The first three regiments of the strategic missile forces' 60th division were equipped with Topol-M missiles in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Russia until now had 20 operational Topol-M missiles, each weighing 47 tonnes and capable of travelling 11,000 kilometres (6,800 miles).
The Russian military says the missile's electronic equipment enables it to evade all existant or planned anti-missile systems.
