http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090415/121135953.html
Four Topol launchers to take part in Moscow Victory Parade
17:10 | 15/ 04/ 2009
MOSCOW, April 15 (RIA Novosti) - Four mobile Topol missile launchers are to
take part in the Victory Parade in Moscow's Red Square on May 9, the Strategic
Missile Forces (SMF) spokesman said Wednesday.
"The best crews from the SMF's seven missile divisions armed with Topol systems
are being enrolled to participate in the military parade on Red Square," Col.
Alexander Vovk said, adding that four launchers [with mock launch tubes] would
take part.
Military parades on Red Square involving hardware were regularly held in the
U.S.S.R. up to 1990. No military parades were held on Red Square from 1991 to
1994, and the May 9 parade in 1995 saw WWII veterans marching in central
Moscow.
Troops resumed their participation in military parades on Red Square in 1996.
The first Victory Parade was held on Red Square on June 24, 1945 on the order
of the then-Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Joseph Stalin.
On May 9, 2008, a military parade involving almost 8,000 personnel, 111
sophisticated tracked and wheeled military vehicles, as well as 32 aircraft and
helicopters occurred for the first time since 1990. Four Topol launchers also
took part in that parade.
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