Russian Aerospace Defense forces have successfully launched a short-range missile as part of the country's missile shield test, Space Forces spokesman Colonel Alexei Zolotukhin told reporters Tuesday.

He said a missile crew of the Sary-Shagan test site together with space forces and some defense industry representatives successfully conducted a launch of a short-range anti-missile rocket at 12.01 a.m. Moscow time.

Pantsyr-S shoots down cruise missile
The Russian armed forces have successfully carried out live firing tests of the Army's Pantsyr-S short-range gun-missile air defense system against cruise missile targets for the first time at the Pemboi range in the country's northern Komi republic.

The system had previously only been tested against practice targets imitating cruise missiles.

Cruise missiles represent a difficult target as they are small, fast-moving, can fly at very low levels and often have a low infrared and radar signature.

The Pantsyr can engage targets up to 20 km by missile and 4 km using the cannon.

US ABMs spreading in Asia - Panetta
The US will continue building a global missile "defense" system and its related facilities in Asia, including in South Korea according to an official statement by Pentagon chief Leon Panetta.

"The Republic of Korea and the US are continuing their dialogue on missile defense" Panetta said, adding that the US and South Korea have agreed to continue their "close observation" of North Korea and plan to avert all provocations by North Korea.

There are nearly 70 American nuclear bombs in Turkey
There are nearly 70 American B61 nuclear bombs in Turkey. All of them are deployed on the Turkish Incirlik Air Base, Adana.

Despite the factual presence of the US air bombs, the possibilities of using them are limited, the Haberturk Agency reported.

The greater part of these bombs is the property of the U.S. army, and Washington reserves the right to use them in case of need. Until 1995 from 10 to 20 B61 bombs were deployed on the two other air bases in the country but later all of them were transferred to the Incirlik Air Base.

Source: Voice of Russia