The anti-missile system would be technically capable of threathening the Russian capital by 2020, Komoyedov said.MOSCOW: Russia needs to undertake additional measures to counter a threat from the U.S. anti-missile system, a high-ranking parliament member of Russia said here Thursday.”Absolutely different things are necessary,” head of the State Duma Defense Committee Vladimir Komoyedov told reporters when asked if the Russian Iskander missiles could surpass [neutralize] the U.S. missile shield in Europe.
In 2011, then-President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Russia would station Iskander tactic missiles in the western exclave of Kaliningrad and southern Krasnodar region, should the United States implement its phased approach to the anti-missile defense program.
The European Phased Adaptive Approach envisaged a four-step deployment of the anti-missile facilities from 2011 to 2020 and moved the sea-based Aegis systems closer to Russian borders.
The first two phases have already been completed and the third would be finished in 2018.
The anti-missile system would be technically capable of threathening the Russian capital by 2020, Komoyedov said.
“Development of the anti-missile defense consists of four phases. The last one, to be completed by 2020, will cover (territory) including Moscow,” he said, adding that Russia possessed all the necessary technologies and ability to face such developments.
In May, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Russia would not need any additional means to fulfill that task as the existing Iskander missiles are capable to neutralize the U.S. launching facilities.
Moscow has repeatedly warned that the anti-missile issue may cause an “ice age” in relations with the United States.
