Russia successfully launches intercontinental missile from Baikonur station

Russia test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Baikonur station in Kazakhstan on Monday, the strategic rocket forces said.

Photo: Russia successfully launches intercontinental missile from Baikonur station

The rocket - an RS-18 - successfully hit its target at a military testing site on the Kamchatka peninsula, Vadim Koval, a spokesman for the strategic rocket forces, said.

The test launch was conducted as part of Russia's program to test the combat-preparedness of its older missiles, Koval said.

Russia's strategic forces carried out a similar test launch on Oct. 18 from the Plesetsk launch facility in northern Russia.

Russia is hoping to extend the usable life of some its older missiles for at least another decade while gradually phasing in a new generation of ballistic missiles.

Following the Soviet collapse, Russia's military was hampered with funding problems and has struggled to extend the lifetime of Soviet-built missiles, since the government lacks money to replace them.