Kura Test Range

Kura Test Range (Russian: Ракетный полигон Кура́), originally known as Kama, is a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile impact area located in northern Kamchatka Krai in the Russian Far East. It is the destination for ballistic missiles which are test fired from other centers, and was chosen due to its remoteness and distance. It is 130 kilometers (81 mi) northeast of the settlement of Klyuchi and the military townlet is called Klyuchi-1, after the nearest settlement. The center coordinates are 57°20′N 161°50′E / 57.333°N 161.833°E / 57.333; 161.833Coordinates: 57°20′N 161°50′E / 57.333°N 161.833°E / 57.333; 161.833.^[1][2]

History

The range was developed beginning in 1955 and was operational in 1957.^[2][3]

Although the range is a test site for intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are controlled by the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces, the range is administratively under Plesetsk Cosmodrome, and consequently is part of the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.^[4][5]

It continues to be active. The most recent impact was on 10:15 (06:15 GMT) on Wednesday 23 May 2012 when a new as yet unnamed ballistic missile designed to evade the US missile shield was tested. The missile was fired from a mobile launcher on the Plesetsk range. The warhead was delivered successfully to its designated area on the Kura range on Kamchatka.^[6] A Bulava missile, launched from submarine Dimitri Donskoi, landed at Kura in October 2010.^[7] Test launches of R-29RMU Sineva and RT-2UTTKh Topol M missiles also frequently target the Kura Test Range.

The United States maintained a permanent Eareckson Air Station (formerly Shemya Air Force Base) only 935 km (581 mi) away, equipped with radars and aircraft to monitor impacts at Kura. One of these radars, Cobra Dane, was fielded in 1977 at Shemya specifically for this purpose.^{[citation needed]}

Some past military staff photos, antennas, optical and radio system photos, can be seen here ^[8] from diverse tracking stations from around the range.

References