Today, Russia's nuclear potential is the second largest in the world. At the moment, the country has more than 1,500 units of deployed charges, as well as a huge tactical nuclear arsenal. It is worth noting that the strategic nuclear potential of Russia is based on the form of a nuclear triad, which simultaneously includes aviation, land and sea components, but the main focus is on a variety of ground-based missile systems, including also absolutely unique ground-based mobile complexes called “Topol” ".
Exact numbers
According to open sources, the Strategic Missile Forces had at their disposal 385 modern installations with ICBMs, while among them:
- 180 SS-25 missiles;
- 72 SS-19 missiles;
- 68 SS-18 missiles;
- 50 SS-27 missiles based in mines;
- 15 mobile-based SS-27 missiles.
The combat strength of the Naval Forces includes 12 strategic submarines, and it is worth noting that Russia's nuclear potential puts forward 7 submarines of the Dolphin project, as well as 5 Kalmar projects. The Air Force is moving forward 77 heavy bombers.
International assessment
The International Commission for the Prevention of Nuclear Proliferation and Disarmament says that Russia owns approximately 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, and experts say that there are a number of factors that artificially reduce Russia's nuclear potential. In particular, it is worth noting several of them:
- Strategic carriers age over time. About 80% of the total number of missiles have an expired life.
- The space and ground missile warning units have limited capabilities, in particular, the complete lack of observation of missile-hazardous areas located in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in most of the Pacific Ocean.
- Heavy bombers are concentrated on only two bases, as a result of which they are vulnerable enough to deliver a preemptive strike.
- Submarine missile carriers have little mobility, that is, only two or even one carrier rocket engaged in patrolling the sea are in an active state.
Positive sides
At the same time, Russia's military nuclear potential has a number of positive aspects:
- recently, the development of the all-new Yars missile system was completed;
- the production of heavy bombers of the Tu-160 model was again launched;
- flight tests of the ship’s missile system called the Bulava were launched, each of which has a nuclear missile;
- a new generation of radar system was put into operation, designed to warn of a missile attack in the Krasnodar Territory and the Leningrad Region;
- In recent years, a rather large number of satellites of the Cosmos model have been put into orbit, which are included in the space echelon of the early warning system, called the Eye.
Fundamentals of Nuclear Policy
Since the 90s of the last century, Russia has been saying that it needs every nuclear missile in order to pursue a containment policy, but today the meaning of this term has been slightly modified. Despite the unchanged thesis that Russia could cause harm to the aggressor in response, the scale of deterrence began to change gradually, which can be seen from the wording that is changing in modern military doctrines. In particular, it is worth noting the fact that the 1993 military doctrine provided for deterring not only ordinary, but also nuclear aggression, but despite the fact that initially this formulation provided for the possibility of a nuclear response to a non-nuclear attack, initially the emphasis was placed on exactly what was needed deter countries with nuclear weapons.
1996 year
The 1996 presidential message on national security suggested that the possibility of a nuclear attack should be prevented, and for this Russia could use strategic nuclear forces in the event of large-scale aggression, even in the case of the use of conventional forces. It was also mentioned there that the country intends to pursue a nuclear deterrence policy at the regional, local and global levels.
1997 year
The 1997 National Security Concept called for deterring aggression, including also the use of nuclear forces if armed aggression poses a risk to the existence of the Russian Federation. Thus, Russia has the right to use strategic nuclear forces in response to any manifestations of aggression, that is, even if the enemy does not use nuclear weapons. Among other things, these formulations provide that Russia retains the ability to use nuclear weapons first.
2010 year
The military doctrine of the Russian Federation, approved in accordance with a presidential decree, says that the Russian Federation has the right to use nuclear weapons in the event that against it or its allies countries that have nuclear weapons decide to use them or use any other types weapons of mass destruction. Also, strategic nuclear forces can be used if aggression against Russia is carried out using conventional weapons, if this entails a threat to the existence of the state itself.
Next, we will examine how Russia is capable of delivering a nuclear strike, and what characteristics this weapon has.
ICBM R-36 UTTH
ICBM R-36 UTTH, better known to many as the Voevoda, is a two-stage silo-based liquid missile. This missile is a development of the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau located in Dnepropetrovsk on the territory of Ukraine since the USSR, and this missile has been used since 1980. It is worth noting that in 1988 the rocket was modernized, and at the moment it is this version that is used in service.
A nuclear strike with these weapons can be delivered at a distance of up to 15,000 km, with a payload of 8800 kg. At the heart of this missile is a separable warhead equipped with ten warheads with an individual targeting system.
The nuclear charge of this warhead for the upgraded missile reaches 800 kt, while the launch version had only 500 kt. The probability deviation was also reduced from 370 to 220 m.
ICBM UR-100N UTTH
Two-stage liquid rocket, which is the development of mechanical engineering design bureau in the city of Reutov, located in the Moscow region. Also in service since 1980. A nuclear warhead can explode at a distance of up to 10,000 km from the launch site, while the missile’s missile weight is 4035 kg. At the heart of this missile is a separable warhead, which has six individual warheads individual guidance on the target, each of which has a capacity of 400 ct. The probabilistic circular deviation is 350 m.
ICBM RT-2PM
A three-stage solid-fuel solid-propellant rocket of mobile soil-based, developed by the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering. It has been in the arsenal of the country since 1988. This missile is capable of hitting a target located at a distance of up to 10.5 km from the launch site, while the cast weight is 1000 kg. In this missile, there is only one combat unit with a capacity of 800 kt, while the probabilistic circular deviation is 350 m.
ICBM RT-2PM1 / M2
A solid-propellant three-stage mobile or mine-based rocket developed by the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering. Used by the Russian Federation since 2000. A nuclear warhead can hit a target located up to 11,000 km from its launch site, while having a payload of 1200 kg. The only combat unit has a power of approximately 800 kt, and the probabilistic circular deviation reaches 350 m.
ICBM RS-24
Mobile-based intercontinental solid propellant ballistic missile equipped with a multiple warhead. The development belongs to the Moscow Institute of Robotics. It is a modification of the ICBM RT-2PM2. It is worth noting the fact that the technical characteristics of this rocket were classified.
SLBM
A two-stage liquid ballistic missile designed to arm the most modern submarines. Strategic nuclear forces of this type were developed at the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau in the Chelyabinsk Region. It has been in service since 1977. The strategic nuclear forces of Russia are putting forward D-9R missile systems, which have two Kalmar missiles at the same time.
This missile has three main options for military equipment:
- monoblock warhead with a nuclear charge of 450 kt;
- a split head with three head units with a capacity of 200 kt each;
- a separable warhead with seven warheads, each of which has a capacity of 100 kt.
BRPL R-29RM
A three-stage ballistic liquid missile designed to be launched from submarines, developed at the Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering of the Chelyabinsk Region. The composition of the complex model D-9R has in its arsenal at the same time two projects "Dolphin", used in the troops since 1986.
This missile has two main equipment options:
- a divided warhead, which contains four warheads with a capacity of 200 ct;
- a split warhead equipped with ten warheads of 100 ct each.
It is worth noting the fact that since 2007 these missiles began to be gradually replaced with a modified version called P29RM. In this case, only one option of combat equipment is provided for - these are eight warheads with a capacity of 100 kt.
R-30
R-30, better known as the "Mace", is the most modern Russian development. Ballistic solid propellant rocket is intended for deployment on submarines. This rocket is being developed by the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering.
The missile is equipped with ten individual individually guided nuclear blocks, with the ability to maneuver in height and course. The range of this missile is at least 8,000 km with a total cast weight of 1150 kg.
Development prospects
In 2010, an agreement was signed under which the nuclear potential of Russia and the United States will gradually decline over the next seven years. In particular, it was agreed that the parties will comply with the restrictions on the introduction of strategic offensive weapons in the following form:
- the number of nuclear bombers, as well as the charges on deployed ICBMs and BRLs, should be no more than 1,550 units;
- the total number of deployed SLBMs, ICBMs and heavy bombers should not exceed 700;
- the total number of non-deployed or deployed ICBMs and heavy bombers is less than 800 units.
Expert opinion
Experts say: at the moment, Russia is not building up its nuclear potential. In particular, at the end of 2012, about 490 deployed carriers were present in the Russian Federation, as well as 1,500 nuclear warheads deployed on them.
According to the forecasts of the Congressional Research Service of the United States, in the process of implementing this agreement, the total number of carriers in Russia will be reduced to 440 units, while the total number of warheads at the time of 2017 will reach 1335 units. It should be noted that there are a lot of changes in the counting mechanism. For example, in accordance with the new treaty, each individual deployed bomber is one unit of charge, although in fact the same Tu-160 can carry 12 nuclear missiles on board at the same time, and the B-52N - even 20.