“After the United States suspended its obligations under the INF Treaty in February 2019, the Department of Defense began the conceptual design of ground-based cruise missile systems and ballistic missiles,” RIA Novosti quoted Carver as saying.
According to him, Washington previously stated that after withdrawing from the agreement, it will research and develop conventional ground-based cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
An agency official noted that past trials demonstrate US commitment to this research and development.
Carver emphasized that development is in the early stages of testing, and “it will be years before any operational system is ready for deployment.”
The U.S. previously tested a cruise missile prohibited by the INF Treaty.
The Pentagon stated that the rocket "left the ground mobile launcher and hit the target precisely after more than 500 km of flight."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, commenting on the maneuvers, noted that the US was preparing for it long before the termination of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles.
The Kremlin also indicated that the preparation of such tests requires considerable time.