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The President arrived at Ivanovo and then traveled by helicopter to the division of the Strategic Rocket Forces deployed in the city of Teikovo.

In Teikovo the head of state visited the field positions of the division, examined the Topol-M missile system, and the command centre.

The first regiment of the Strategic Rocket Forces division in Teikovo, equipped by Topol-M mobile ground-launched missile systems, began its military duty last Sunday, 10 December 2006.

Following the visit, the President emphasised that the Topol-M missile system represents an essential contribution to increasing security in Russia. Vladimir Putin also pointed out that Topol-M is the newest kind of mobile system and has special qualities including increased durability, starting speed and other unique characteristics.

The President congratulated the rocket engineers and designers that worked on this system on accomplishing their military duties.

Operations designed to protect against possible attacks on the system, in particular from mines on the ground and from helicopters in the air, were demonstrated to the head of state.

Topol-M is a strategic missile system that contains the latest achievements in science and technology. Putting the Topol-M system into operation has a significant value for the formation of promising strike groups in the Strategic Rocket Forces. Within the Topol-M system, the same missile as the one used for locating mines is being deployed. This resulted in the number of tests decreasing by 3 to 4 times. Using the infrastructure available in the launching areas of the Strategic Rocket Forces and a system that is compatible with the existing system of military control and communications reduced the cost for putting the system into orbit by two times.

The Topol-M system differs from previous systems because of its additional operational characteristics. In particular, the guaranteed time of operation increased by 1,5 times.

The programme for expanding the Topol-M system is being carried out synchronously with the gradual removal of its predecessor, the Topol missile system, from the military structure of the Strategic Rocket Forces.