DATE=12/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243540
TITLE=RUSSIA MISSILES  (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIA HAS BEGUN ACTIVATING A NEW GENERATION OF 
NUCLEAR-CAPABLE BALLISTIC MISSILES.  FROM MOSCOW, CORRESPONDENT 
PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE DEPLOYMENT IS A SIGNIFICANT 
ACHIEVEMENT FOR RUSSIA'S CASH-STRAPPED ARMED FORCES.

TEXT:  RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV INAUGURATED  THE 
FIRST REGIMENT OF 10 NEW "TOPOL-M" MISSILES (SUNDAY) AT A 
MILITARY BASE 700-KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF MOSCOW.  THE TOPOL IS A
LIGHTWEIGHT, SOLID FUEL MISSILE DESIGNED TO BE FIRED FROM A 
VEHICLE.

NEWS AGENCIES QUOTE MR. SERGEYEV AS SAYING THE TOPOL GIVES RUSSIA
SUFFICIENT NUCLEAR DETERRENCE UNTIL THE WORLD GETS RID OF NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.

THE SINGLE-WARHEAD TOPOL IS EXPECTED TO BECOME THE MAINSTAY OF 
RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC MISSILE FORCES, REPLACING THE HEAVIER, 
MULTIPLE-WARHEAD VARIETY.

MINISTER SERGEYEV SAYS BRINGING THE TOPOL-M ON LINE IS A MAJOR 
ACHIEVEMENT AT THIS TIME OF SEVERE FUNDING SHORTAGES. 

A DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER WAS EARLIER QUOTED AS SAYING LESS THAN 
HALF THE COST OF DEPLOYING THE MISSILES HAD BEEN MET.  THE 
ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY QUOTED DEPUTY MINISTER ALEXANDER KOSOVAN AS
SAYING A WAGE BILL TOTALLING THE EQUIVALENT OF 
ONE-POINT-THREE-MILLION DOLLARS IS STILL UNPAID.

OFFICIALS SAY ONE WAY RUSSIA CAN SAVE MONEY ON SECURITY IS 
RATIFICATION OF THE START-TWO NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY BY THE DUMA, OR
LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT.  START-TWO RATIFICATION COULD UNLOCK 
FUNDS TO HELP RUSSIA WITH THE EXPENSIVE TASK OF DISMANTLING ITS 
AGING NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO MEET THE TREATY'S TERMS.

DEFENSE MINISTER SERGEYEV HAS URGED THE DUMA TO PROMPTLY APPROVE 
START-TWO, BUT LAWMAKERS HAVE STALLED CONSIDERATION FOR SEVERAL 
YEARS.

EXPERTS SAY RETIRING OLDER MISSILES WOULD ALLOW RUSSIA'S MILITARY
STRATEGISTS TO CONCENTRATE LIMITED BUDGET RESOURCES ON THE 
TOPOL-M, WHICH IS  NOT  SUBJECT TO CUTS UNDER START-TWO, BUT 
WHICH IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO MEET THE COUNTRY'S SECURITY NEEDS.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/PFH/RAE

27-Dec-98 1:39 PM EST (1839 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.