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Russia test-launched an older intercontinental ballistic missile from the Baikonur station in Kazakhstan on Monday, the strategic rocket forces said.The missile — an RS-18 — successfully hit its target at a military testing site on the Kamchatka peninsula, said Vadim Koval, a spokesman for the strategic rocket forces. It traveled some 3,850 miles before reaching Kamchatka on the Pacific Ocean.The test launch was conducted as part of Russia's program to check 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.Because of funding challenges, Russia hopes 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. The RS-18 has been on duty since 1980.As in the days of Noah...
