“Only 17 days have passed since the United States withdrew from the INF Treaty. Despite the fact that in the United States there are large design reserves for cruise missiles (including ground-based ones), launchers, controls and considerable experience in conducting field tests, in such a short time it is impossible to create a prototype weapon or prepare test launches ", - he said.
According to him, all this requires significantly more time. According to the expert, “in two weeks you can only prepare and approve a test program at higher authorities, and even then if you work in two shifts.”
“There can be only one conclusion here - these tests were conceived, organized, prepared and financed long before the US official withdrawal from the INF Treaty,” Khodarenok said.
On the eve of the United States tested a cruise missile prohibited by the INF Treaty.
The Pentagon stated that the test missile "left the land mobile launcher and hit the target precisely after more than 500 km of flight."
Commenting on these maneuvers, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed the view that Washington "has taken a course towards escalating military tensions."
On August 2, the INF Treaty was officially discontinued at the initiative of the United States.