08 June 2012, 13:00
Missile launched in Astrakhan Region alarms locals and hits target in Kazakhstan
The Russian Strategic Missile Forces (RSMF) have made a test launch of a "Topol" intercontinental ballistic missile from the "Kapustin Yar" Training Range, located in the Astrakhan Region. The training warhead of the missile hit the conventional target on the training range in Kazakhstan with the preset accuracy, said Colonel Vadim Koval, the spokesman for the RSMF. At the same time, residents in Russia and other countries, who watched the missile in the sky, took her for an UFO (unidentified flying object).
The launch was made in order to "confirm the stability of the basic performance parameters of the missiles of this class within the extended service life, master the means of measurement of various types of measuring systems in the interests of the armed forces, and make a regular test of the military equipment," the "Interfax" reports.
The training warhead of the missile hit the conditional target at the "Sary-Shagan" Training Range in Kazakhstan with the preset accuracy.
The trial launch allowed obtaining experimental data about the parameters of the target environment, formed by the military equipment advanced ballistic missiles in the process of overcoming the anti-missile defence, writes the "Life News".
In the Astrakhan Region, the local Chief Department of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) has recorded more than 50 reports from local residents worried with the phenomenon. Reports of similar observations were coming from other regions and countries. Thus, hundreds of Israelis called the police, ambulance and other emergency services with stories about an unidentified flying object they observed after sunset, RIA "Novosti" reports.
