On Nov. 26, 2008, the Russian military reported a third successful test of the new land-based RS-24 intercontinental multiple-warhead, nuclear-capable missile (possible NATO designation SS-X-29).

The RS-24 was launched from Plesetsk space center in northwest Russia and reached its designated target area on the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia's Pacific northeast. Two previous tests -- also successful -- took place on May 29 and on Dec. 25, 2007.

Moscow intends to deploy a regiment equipped with RS-24s in the Krasnye Sosenki ("Red Pines"), also known as the Teikovo missile compound, by the end of 2009. Teikovo, located in Ivanovo region near Moscow, already hosts a Topol-M -- SS-27 -- nuclear missile battalion.

The RS-24 is based on the Topol-M but is upgraded with multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicle -- MIRV -- warheads. This missile gradually will replace the SS-18 Satan and SS-19 Stiletto missiles and will form the core of Russian strategic missile forces along with Topol-M. It is expected to remain in service until at least 2050. In that sense, it is the heir or "son" of the famous and formidable SS-18 (NATO designation Satan).

In addition to the RS-24, on Nov. 28, 2008, the Russian military also tested another MIRV-ed Topol spinoff: the sea-based Bulava missile submarine-launched ballistic missile (NATO designation SS-NX-30). This is designed for launch from the newest class of Russian submarine -- the Borei, Project 955 strategic, nuclear-powered sub.

The Bulava SLBM was test-fired from the Dmitry Donskoy, a submarine in Russia's northern White Sea. It reached its target area on Kamchatka Peninsula. Although four of the six previous tests since December 2005 failed, Russian authorities said the missile already entered mass production.

The new ballistic missiles boost Moscow's position in the trilateral U.S.-European-Russian ballistic missile defense debate. Former Russian president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and current President Dmitry Medvedev are warning Europeans that the proposed U.S. missile defense shield would make Europe a "powder keg" and target Europe with nuclear capable missiles.

The latest ballistic missile test came after a new row over the proposed missile shield. Moscow is sending a signal to Washington that it is capable of hitting U.S. targets even when all of America's current ballistic missile defense programs become fully operational.

Poland's agreement to deploy 10 U.S.-built Ground-based Mid-course Interceptors on its territory, which came promptly after Russia's August invasion of the former Soviet republic of Georgia in the Caucasus, triggered the new round of squabbling.

In his first State of the Union speech on Nov. 5, 2008, Medvedev threatened to station Iskander short-range, nuclear-capable missiles in Russia's Kaliningrad exclave between Lithuania and Poland if the United States proceeds with deploying anti-missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic. Later, Medvedev softened his rhetoric in what experts believe to be an opening for an improved relationship with the incoming Obama administration in Washington.

Giving in to the Kremlin's demands would be granting Moscow its third strategic victory in a row. First, it was able to unilaterally recognize the independence of Georgian provinces Abkhazia and South Ossetia without paying a diplomatic price. NATO's subsequent failure to offer a Membership Action Plan to Georgia and Ukraine at its December summit in Brussels was a second win for the Kremlin.

The Obama administration should not derail deployment of the missile shield in Europe. However, it should keep the door open to Moscow, engaging the Kremlin in a dialogue on missile defense. After all, the real threats to Russia may come from neighbors armed with medium-range ballistic missiles, such as Iran and China, not from the United States.

(Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., is a senior research fellow in Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Security at the Catherine and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute at The Heritage Foundation.)

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