Russia deploys chilling new ‘Arctic war’ missiles as Putin prepares for Trump to withdraw from Cold War weapons treaty
The missiles are specially adapted for the cold and will be used to defend bases in the far north
THE Russian military has begun deploying a new missile system designed to operate in the Arctic.
The deployment comes as the country said it is preparing for the arrival of new American missiles in Europe after Donald Trump threatened to quit a Cold War era arms treaty.
Russia’s defence ministry said it has now received the first batch of Tor-M2DT surface-to-air missile systems designed for the Arctic region,
The missiles have distinctive white and grey camouflage along with a picture of a snarling bear on the front of their carrier.
They made their first public appearance at the 2017 Victory Day parade in Moscow.
The Tor-M2DT system is capable of detecting up to 40 moving aerial targets at a range of 9.3 miles and altitude of 7.46 miles.
The weapons are capable of handling the extreme temperatures and terrain of the Arctic region and will reportedly be deployed with Russia’s Northern fleet.
Their mission is to defend military bases in the Arctic, where Russia has recently been building up its presence.
As temperatures rise across the globe, more areas of the Arctic have been opened up to the oil and gas exploration which Russia is keen to exploit.
It is also keen to secure access to the strategic northern shipping corridor between Asia and Europe, which has been opened up by thawing ice.
As well as the Tor-M2DT, Russia has also deployed the Pantsir-SA missile system, special snow mobiles and off road vehicles capable of operating in the tough terrain to the Arctic.
Meanwhile Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Moscow’s armed forces have begun to prepare for the deployment of new nuclear weapons.
His comments come as Donald Trump is threatening to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The agreement eliminated both countries’ land-based short-and intermediate-range nuclear missiles from Europe but Russia and the US have accused each other of violating it.
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Ryabko brushed off American denials that more missiles were on the way, saying “we are assuming the worst-case scenario in our military planning.”
Trump first made the threat to withdraw from the 1987 treaty last month.
“Russia has violated the agreement. They have been violating it for many years," the US president has said.
"And we're not going to let them violate a nuclear agreement and go out and do weapons and we're not allowed to."
Vladimir Putin now has power to launch pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the West under plans approved by the Russian parliament.
Senators have recommended tearing up the military doctrine banning initial use of weapons of mass destruction.
Only last month, Putin told an international policy forum that Russia would only use its nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack on the country.
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