The Russian Federation should start subject negotiations with Ukraine on cooperation in missile production, in particular, a program to create new heavy strategic missiles, second Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma (1994-2005) has said.
"Russia needs heavy strategic missiles. Yes, we will extend there the service life [of the RS-20V "Voyevoda" missile] for five years, but this has limits," Kuchma said at a press conference in Dnipropetrovsk as part of the events to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mykhailo Yanhel, the famous Soviet rocket designer.
"But during this period of time they want to make a replacement. I don’t believe that Russia will easily manage to do this, as they also have lost their potential," he added.
"We [Ukraine and Russia] must search for consensus in high-tech sectors, such as space, space-rocketry and aviation," he said.
According to the assessments made by the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN) in 2010, the service life for the RS-20V "Voyevoda" ballistic missiles (SS-18 Satan in NATO classification) could be extended for 8-10 years. The RS-20V ballistic missiles are planned to be decommissioned in the near future.
