In accordance with the START-2 Treaty ratified in April 2000, the PC-20 heavy - class intercontinental ballistic missile system (SS-18 or "Satan" according to the Western classification), which is in service with our Strategic Missile Forces, is subject to destruction in the period up to 2007. The main modifications of this RC were developed back in the 70s in the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, which was then headed by Academician V. Utkin. Until now, they are considered the most powerful in their class and are on combat duty, being in service with several formations of the Strategic Missile Forces of Russia.

At the time of the start of the Treaty, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces were armed with 308 PC-20 intercontinental ballistic missiles. To date, there are about one and a half hundred of them left. But all of them, every single one of them, must be eliminated. It seems true that a method of disposal has been found that can be called useful: "Satan" as a space launch vehicle is used in the implementation of the Russian-Ukrainian (with the participation of representatives of state bodies of Kazakhstan) conversion project of the International Space Company "Kosmotras".

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