In a process carried out in the Sea of Japan, Russia has tested the launch of anti-ship missilesthe Russian Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday. In the test, two ships launched a simulated missile attack on an enemy warship about 100 kilometers away.
The ministry said two Moskit cruise missiles successfully hit the target.
The Moskit, which NATO calls the SS-N-22 Sunburn, is a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile capable of delivering conventional and nuclear warheads.
The Soviet-made missile is capable of flying at three times the speed of sound and it has a range of up to 250 kilometres.
The ministry indicated that the exercise, which was attended by other warships and aircraft of the Navy, took place in the Gulf of Peter the Great, in the Sea of Japan, but did not offer more precise coordinates.
The gulf borders the headquarters of the Russian Pacific Fleet at Fokino and is about 700 kilometers from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
show military prowess
The Russian military has conducted regular exercises across the country and Russian warships continue to exercise, even with the fighting in Ukraine now in its second year. These exercises were intended to train their troops AND show the country’s military capability.
The US Navy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Japan’s reaction
Japan reacted calmly to the missile exercise, which took place near Vladivostok, rather than directly in the waters between the two countries.
Yoshihiko Isozaki, Japan’s deputy cabinet secretary, said at a news conference on Tuesday that Tokyo will continue to monitor Russia’s military operations, which have stepped up their activity in the region.
Tokyo has no plans to file a protest with Russia from the missile exercise, said Tasuku Matsuki, a Japanese foreign ministry official in charge of Russia, noting that its location – Peter the Great Bay – is considered the Russian coast, even though it overlooks the water between the two countries .
“Generally, Japan is concerned about Russia’s growing military activities along the coasts of Japan and watches them with great interest,” said Matsuki.
He added that Russia has conducted missile exercises in that area in the past and has issued maritime warnings in advance.
Russian nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers flew over the Sea of Japan for several hours last week.
In September, Japan protested multinational military exercises on the Russian-controlled Kuril Islands, some of which Japan claimed, and expressed concern about the exercises made by Russian and Chinese warships in the Sea of Japan.
Russia also tested submarine-launched missiles in the Sea of Japan last year.
Source: AP
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.