(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-17 21:45

MOSCOW -- A senior Russian officer has said that Russia's strategic missiles are capable of passing through any existing and prospective missile defense systems, including the one proposed by the United States for eastern Europe, the Interfax News Agency reported Monday.

"The combat gear we are receiving and will receive in several years from now will allow our missiles to pass through any missile defense systems," the news agency quoted Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN) Commander Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov as saying.

Earlier Monday, a Russian nuclear powered submarine test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that flew over thousands of kilometers to hit a designated target on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's far east.

The RVSN will be armed with new-generation systems and increase training and test launches of ballistic missiles in 2008, Interfax said, citing military sources.

The United States has pledged to deploy an anti-ballistic missile system in Central Europe, featuring a radar station in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland. Russia has repeated its opposition to the plan.