The United States first tested a new cruise missile after release from the agreement on liquidation of intermediate-and shorter-range missiles (INF Treaty)

U. S. Department of Defense

Deputy foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Ryabkov, quoted by TASS, said that the U.S. is “headed for whipping up military tensions”

The Federation Council / Flickr

The United States first tested a new cruise missile after release from the agreement on liquidation of intermediate-and shorter-range missiles (INF Treaty). As stated in the statement on the website of the US Department of defense, the cruise missile was launched on Sunday, August 18, from the island of San Nicolas off the coast of California.

It is reported that the projectile hit the target at a distance of over 500 kilometers. The U.S. military stressed that the collected during the test data will serve as basis for further modernization of medium-range missiles. Previously, the launch was written by Reuters and CNN. A source in the Pentagon called the test response of the administration of U.S. President Donald trump on a multi-year failure by Russia of the INF Treaty.

As stated by the website Military.com Lieutenant-Colonel USAF Robert Carver, the new American cruise missile land-based, launched from a mobile installation that was a kind of cruise missiles “Tomahawk”. The Pentagon said that the missile was designed to deliver conventional, not nuclear warheads.

Deputy foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Ryabkov, quoted by TASS, said that the US “took a course on the intensification of the military tension.” “We are not to succumb to provocations,” – said the diplomat. According to him, the testing of cruise missiles with ranges prohibited by the INF Treaty, says that Washington has long led the development of such systems and preparing for the withdrawal from the Treaty. He noted that Russia will continue to adhere to the moratorium on placement of medium-range missiles.

American rocket launch took place against the backdrop of the explosion in Arkhangelsk region, presumably resulting from unsuccessful tests of new Russian missiles. In the media voiced version that it could be a cruise missile “Burevestnik”, the underwater drone “Poseidon”, a hypersonic anti-ship missile “Zircon”, the rocket bottom-based “Scythian”.

The INF Treaty entered into force on 1 June 1988. He put an end to the missile crisis in Europe, which erupted as a result of placing in Europe of the Soviet and American rockets “Pershing”. The document envisages the elimination of an entire class of missiles: it prohibits the parties to produce, test and deploy ballistic and cruise missiles, ground-based medium-range (1000 to 5500 km) and shorter-range (500 to 1000 km), as well as launchers for them.

20 Oct 2018 trump announced plans to withdraw from the contract due to the fact that the Russian side allegedly violates its provisions. In December 2018 Pompeo demanded from Russia within 60 days destroy or modify the rocket 9М729, which by its parameters, according to the Washington, violated the Treaty. Subsequently, the U.S. side has tightened requirements, insisting only on the verifiable destruction of the rocket. Russia rejected the accusations of the American side, putting forward counter-claims against the United States.

1 February in Washington announced the suspension of participation in the INF Treaty. Then the US administration said that six months from now – August 2 – will be released from the Treaty if Russia will not return to its respect.

On 2 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia’s response to the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty will be a mirror, Moscow, Russia suspends participation in the Treaty and begins R & d to develop new types of missiles. July 3, Putin signed a law suspending Russia’s actions the INF Treaty.

August 2, US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo has officially stated that the United States withdraws from the INF Treaty, and the fault for this lies only on Russia, as the US gave her six months to return to compliance with the Treaty, but Russia refused.