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Russian strategic nuclear forces

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Rocket Forces In January 2015 Russia was estimated to have499 strategic launchers and
Strategic fleet about 1900 nuclear warheads. In its September 2014 New START data
Strategic aviation exchange Russia reported 528 deployed launchers with 1643 New START- Recent posts
Early warning accountable nuclear warheads. One of the Bulava missiles
Military space missed its targets
The Strategic Rocket Forces were estimated to have 305 operational missile
Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic
systems that include missiles that can carry 1166 warheads. These include 46 bombers used in Syria strikes
Featured articles R-36M2 (SS-18) missiles, 60 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) missiles, 72 road-mobile Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
Very modest Topol (SS-25) systems, 60 silo-based and 18 road-mobile Topol-M (SS-27) First launch of the Tundra early-
expectations: systems, and 49 RS-24 missiles. warning satellite
Performance of
Two Bulava missiles launched
Moscow missile [Strategic Rocket Forces...]
from Vladimir Monomakh
defense
Is Russia working on a massive
How many warheads? The Russian strategic fleet includes 8 operational strategic missile submarines dirty bomb?
Bulava with SLBMs, whose missiles can carry 128 missiles with 512 nuclear warheads. Vladimir Monomakh to conduct
Five operational Project 667BDRM submarines are based in the Northern Fleet. salvo Bulava launch
The book These submarines carry 80 R-29RM (SS-N-23) launchers. One Project 955 Russia tests command and
submarine with 16 Bulava SLBMs on board is also based in the Northern Fleet. control system in an exercise
The only remaining Pacific Fleet base hosts two 667BDR (Delta III) submarines, with multiple missile launches
which carry 36 R-29R (SS-N-18) missiles. (Two Project 955 submarines are Test of silo-based RS-24 Yars
from Plesetsk
expected to join the Pacific Fleet in 2015.)
[Strategic fleet...] Construction of an early-warning
radar in Vorkuta
The Russian strategic aviation consists of 66 bombers that carry an estimated
200 long-range cruise missiles and bombs. The bombers are 11 Tu-160 Archive
(Blackjack) and 55 Tu-95MS (Bear H). The bombers can carry various Administrivia
modifications of the Kh-55 (AS-15) cruise missile and gravity bombs. Arms control
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http://russianforces.org/current/[11/26/2015 12:11:52 PM]

Early warning - Russian strategic nuclear forces

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Rocket Forces The system that are traditionally considered part of strategic defense -- missile
Strategic fleet defense, the early-warning system, space surveillance and anti-satellite
Strategic aviation systems -- are currently included in the Air and Space Defense Forces, a Recent posts
Early warning separate branch of Russia's Armed Forces, subordinated directly to the General One of the Bulava missiles
Military space Staff. missed its targets
Featured articles Early-warning system bombers used in Syria strikes
Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
Very modest Early-warning satellites First launch of the Tundra early-
expectations: warning satellite
Performance of As of February 2015, Russia had no operational early-warning satellites.
Moscow missile
Two last satellites on the highly-elliptical orbit--Cosmos-2422 (HEO, launched from Vladimir Monomakh
defense
21 July 2006, NORAD catalog number 29260) and Cosmos-2446 (HEO, 2 Is Russia working on a massive
How many warheads?
dirty bomb?
Bulava December 2008, 33447)-- stopped operations in the fall of 2014. These were
Vladimir Monomakh to conduct
first-generation satellites of the 73D6 type that were built for the US-KS salvo Bulava launch
The book system (also known as Oko). This system was designed to detect launches of Russia tests command and
ballistic missiles from the U.S. territory and cannot detect missiles launched control system in an exercise
from sea or other regions. with multiple missile launches
Test of silo-based RS-24 Yars
The last geostationary satellite of the US-KMO system, Cosmos-2479 (GEO, from Plesetsk
30 March 2012, 38101), stopped operations in April 2014. Construction of an early-warning
radar in Vorkuta
The early-warning satellites were transmittin information in real time to the
Western command centers at Serpukhov-15 (near Kurilovo, Kaluga oblast) and Archive
Eastern center near Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The information is processed there
and transmitted to the command center in Solnechnogorsk. Administrivia
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Early warning
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Voronezh-VP planned (2017)
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In addition to the dedicated early-warning radars, the Don-2N radar of the [More about subscription]
Moscow missile defense system and the Dunay-3U radar near Chekhov are also
used for early-warning and space surveillance. Powered by
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Missile defense
The Moscow missile defense system A-135 is operated by a missile defense
division. The main command center of the system and the battle-management
radar are located in Sofrino (Moscow oblast). The command center of the
system and its radar are undergoing a software upgrade.
http://russianforces.org/sprn/[11/26/2015 12:13:17 PM]

Early warning - Russian strategic nuclear forces
The system includes the Don-2N battle-management phased-array radar,

command center, and 68 short-range interceptors of the 53T6 (Gazelle) type.
The 32 long-range 51T6 (Gorgon) interceptors have been removed from the
system. The short-range interceptors are deployed at five sites -- Lytkarino (16
interceptors), Sofrino (12), Korolev (12) Skhodnya (16), and Vnukovo (12).
Long-range missiles used to be deployed with two units with headquarters in
Naro-Fominsk-10 and Sergiyev Posad-15. The system was accepted for service
in 1995.
Space surveillance
Space surveillance system is operated by the Main space-surveillance
command center. To monitor objects on low earth orbits and determines
parameters of their orbits, the system uses the the early-warning radar
network.
The space surveillance network also includes the Krona system at

Zelenchukskaya in the North Caucasus, which includes dedicated X-band space
surveillance radars. Another system of this type is being deployed near
Nakhodka on the Far East.
To monitor objects on high-altitude orbits, the space-surveillance system uses
optical observations. The main optical observation station, Okno, is located in
Nurek, Tajikistan. Its telescopes allow detection of object at altitudes of up to
40,000 km. The station began operations in 1999. Space-surveillance tasks are
also assigned to observatories of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
[February 11, 2015] [#]
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How many warheads? - Blog - Russian strategic nuclear forces

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Rocket Forces The Russian military are promising again to deploy multiple warheads on
Strategic fleet Topol-M missiles - this time "in two-three years", according to the commander
Strategic aviation of the Rocket Forces. Well, it won't happen in two years - the START Treaty, Recent posts
Early warning which effectively prohibits MIRVing Topol-M, will not expire until December One of the Bulava missiles
Military space 2009. It probably won't happen in three years either - even if Russia will get missed its targets
serious about MIRVing, it would take time to test the new warhead and deploy Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic
Featured articles it. In fact, I hope it won't happen at all, since there is absolutely no reason to bombers used in Syria strikes
make Topol-M carry multiple warheads. Other than, of course, to artificially Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
Very modest inflate the total number of warheads in Russia's arsenal, so Russia won't lose in First launch of the Tundra early-
Performance of
the meaningless "who has the most nuclear warheads" contest. As if it matters.
Moscow missile
defense
A lot of people in Russia, however, believe that the number of nuclear from Vladimir Monomakh
How many warheads?

warheads is important, so we regularly see reports that declare that Topol-M Is Russia working on a massive
will have seven warheads or that Bulava will carry ten. Nothing is, of course, dirty bomb?
Bulava
entirely impossible, but it would be interesting to see what the actual MIRVing Vladimir Monomakh to conduct
salvo Bulava launch
potential of these missiles may look like.
The book Russia tests command and
According to the START data exchange, Topol-M is a single-warhead missile control system in an exercise
with multiple missile launches
with throw-weight of 1200 kg, Bulava is a six-warhead missile, whose throw-
weight is declared as 1150 kg at the moment (START Treaty allows adjustment from Plesetsk
of the declared throw-weight based on the results of flight tests, so this Construction of an early-warning
number may change, but it is unlikely that it would change dramatically). radar in Vorkuta
Historical data show that the weight of warheads comes to about half of the
declared throw-weight of a missile. For example, this is true for a single- Archive
warhead Topol, whose warhead is under 500 kg, and for RT-23UTTH (SS-24) - Administrivia
its ten warheads weighed about 2000 kg (declared throw-weight of these Arms control
missiles is 1000 and 4050 kg respectively). Another half of the payload is Aviation
Overview
probably taken by the bus (for MIRVed missiles), missile defense penetration Budget
Reviews
aids and things like that. There is certainly some room for maneuver there, Early warning
Contents
but we can probably assume that this relationship will hold for a notional Government
Authors
MIRVed Topol-M and for Bulava. Industry
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Russian edition This means that each of the six declared Bulava warheads would weigh about
Misc
90 kg. The most lightweight warheads deployed in the Soviet Union and Russia
Missile defense
About the project so far were those of R-29R and R-39 missiles, with weights in the 110-130 kg
Navy
range (this includes reentry vehicle body and electronics) and yields of 50 and
75 kt respectively. The R-29R warheads are unlikely candidates - they are
Contributors Rocket Forces
fairly old. The R-39 ones seem to be too heavy to have six of them fit on
Bulava - 75-kt warheads would eat up about 70% of Bulava's throw-weight
Strategic forces
instead of usual 50%. It is hard to tell without knowing the details of the
missile design if this is going to be a problem.
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Another possibility for Bulava is to have a new warhead that would resemble RSS feed
the U.S. W76, deployed on Trident I C-4 missiles. According to Soviet data,
[What is RSS feed?]
W76 has the weight of 91.7 kg (of which 61.5 kg was the nuclear charge, 22.7
kg - reentry vehicle body, and 6.7 kg - electronics). With the yield of 100 kt, it
had a yield-to-weight ratio which is slightly better but comparable to that of Subscribe
the R-39 warhead (100 kt/61.5 kg vs. 75 kt/about 50-55 kg, which is about email address
20% difference), indicating that development of a 90-kg warhead with a 75 to Submit
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without nuclear tests.
As for Topol-M, it is possible that it could carry the same 90-kg warhead, Powered by
should one be developed for Bulava. In this case, Topol-M would indeed be able Movable Type 4.31-en
to carry seven of them, although it would be somewhat unusual for a land-
based missile to have small-yield warheads. Another option for Topol-M would
be to have three warheads of the type deployed on R-23UTTH/SS-24 - at
about 200 kg each they would take about half of the throw-weight of the
missile. With the yield of 400 kt, they would be more in line with the historic
trend.
But then again, nothing of this really matters - none of these new warheads
http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/05/how_many_warheads.shtml[11/26/2015 2:38:37 PM]

have any reasonable mission. The "MIRVed Topol-M" and, to large extent,
Bulava are political projects, designed for the cold-war style competition. They
may as well carry warhead mockups filled with concrete - the effect would be
pretty much the same.
[Navy] [Nuclear complex] [Rocket Forces] [May 17, 2007] [#]
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References to this entry

Strategic Rocket Forces conducted a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic
missile, which was declared a missile of a new type, designated RS-24. The launch was
conducted at 14:20 MSK from the Plesetsk test site toward the Kura test...
[Russia tested a new missile] [June 5, 2007 3:21 PM] [#]
It is (almost) official now the RS-24 missile that Russia tested on May 29, 2007 is a
multiple-warhead version of Topol-M. That was my guess at the time of the test, but now I
have had it confirmed. The...
[Is RS-24 a new missile?] [July 6, 2007 12:12 PM] [#]
Its good to know that people read this blog, but sometimes it shows in unexpected ways. In
a discussion of the RS-24 test, one of my readers sent me a copy of an article from Janes
Missiles and Rockets devoted...
[Janes cover story] [July 9, 2007 9:33 AM] [#]
On December 25, 2007 the Strategic Rocket Forces (with the Space Forces) performed a
successful test launch of the RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile. The launch was
performed at 16:10 MSK (13:10 UTC) from a mobile launcher deployed at the Pleset...
[Second test launch of RS-24 ICBM] [December 27, 2007 4:44 PM] [#]
As I wrote in the last Bulletin Online column, it would be quite difficult for Russia to reduce
the number of its strategic nuclear warheads below about 1500 if it is serious about
completing all the development programs that are...
[Long-term force projections] [January 25, 2009 9:33 PM] [#]
Russian press quotes Nikolai Solovtsov, the commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces, as
saying that the RS-24 missile (MIRVed Topol-M) will carry "no fewer than four" warheads.
This probably means exactly four - the point here is that there ...
["No fewer than four" warheads on RS-24] [March 31, 2009 1:32 PM] [#]
It looks like the deployment of RS-24 is delayed for more than a month or two. The
Vedomosti newspaper quotes a source in the Ministry of Defense as saying that the
deployment will begin in 2011, after one or two...
[No RS-24 until 2011?] [January 19, 2010 4:50 PM] [#]
The commission that was set up after the December 2009 failed test of the Bulava missile to
assess the future of the program finally delivered its verdict - the program will continue. This
conclusion, of course, was expected - in...
[Commission approves more tests for Bulava] [July 2, 2010 1:34 PM] [#]
It has arrived indeed. The long-awaited news about RS-24 deployment came today from
Farnborough, where Vladimir Popovkin, the first deputy minister of defense, was talking to the
press (the news caught me in my French class, hence the title). Although...
[Le RS-24 est arriv!] [July 19, 2010 4:04 PM] [#]
The first New START data exchange scheduled for March 22, 2011 should finally answer the
question of how many warheads are deployed on the RS-24 version of the Topol-M missile.
Some press reports mentioned four, but Russian press is notoriously...
[RS-24 warheads - three or four?] [March 9, 2011 11:38 PM] [#]
When the Makeyev Design Bureau announced that the May 20, 2011 launchwas part of a
Liner SLBM flight test program, my money was on this being a version of the R-29RM Sineva
missile with more than four warheads. It appears...
[Multiple warheads of the Liner SLBM] [August 9, 2011 1:13 PM] [#]
Liner SLBM is not a mystery anymore - it is indeed a ten-warhead version of the R-29RM
Sineva missile. A new book published by the Makeyev Design Bureau (my thanks to
Alexander, who located the book and published the relevant...
[Liner SLBM explained] [October 4, 2011 11:24 PM] [#]
It appears that the story about U.S. suspicions about Russia's violating the INF treaty has just
received a new life - a report published last week by Josh Rogin, suggests that the

administration officials "told lawmakers that Russia had violated...

[Treaty compliance controversies] [December 3, 2013 12:54 PM] [#]
Comments
Pavel:
For some reason, I remember reading STARTs ratification date was July 1 and thus the 15
year agreement would expire on June 30, 2009. Is this in error?
Frank Shuler
USA
[Frank Shuler] [May 17, 2007] [#]
Pavel,
would you say it is another attempt to threaten US on their way to deploy anti-ballistic missile
systems? It seems like there are a number of different threats Russia makes and I understand
the major point is not to actually start to pull ourselves in this race again.
[Aleksandr Rabodzey] [May 17, 2007] [#]
Frank: The START Treaty was signed in July 1991 (on July 31st), but entered into force on
December 4th, 1994.
Aleksandr: I don't think a MIRVed Topol-M would be considered much of a threat by the
United States. More likely U.S. wouldn't care.
[Pavel Podvig ] [May 17, 2007] [#]
Pavel:
Thanks for the START timeline. I never quite understood that the treaty period began with the
ratification and not the actual signing. Thus, the fifteen year period covering the treaty expires
in 2009. My hope for an extension is fading. Neither the Russian or American government's
seem really interested.
Frank Shuler
USA
I can't understand this irrational oposition to MIRVing Topol-m.
If the effect will be the same with MIRV or a single warhead or a concrete mockup, well...,
let's MRV them (after all it is the same).
Kolokol
PD: Remember Kosovo

[Kolokol] [May 18, 2007] [#]
> Well, it wont happen in two years the START Treaty, which effectively prohibits MIRVing
Topol-M, will not expire until December 2009.
2, 2.5 or 3 years - a difference in few months does not matter.
So Commander is right. ;-)

[Russian] [May 18, 2007] [#]
Rumors indicate that the nuclear charges of the MIRV warhead for the Topol-m & Bulava
family will come from the RSM-52 with just small modernizations to obtain sligtly lighther 100
kT vehicles.
I will search for the article.

[Kolokol] [May 23, 2007] [#]
Interesting article from RIA Novosti posted May 22nd.
Apparently the Russian Navy is transferring two regiments of Tu-22m bombers to the Russian
Air Force, specifically the 37th Air Army of the Strategic Command as part of major
organizational changes.
I think the inference is that the Russian Navy is giving up its Tu-22ms and as a result its role
in maritime strike missions. (my conclusions)
The article stated the Russian Air Force has an inventory of 124 Backfire bombers and this
move will increase that total by 58 aircraft.

Frank Shuler
USA
Logical move. Hunting Nimitz based groups is not the most likely scenario for today years.
On the contrary near-abroad spots can become threatening. Tu-22M3 fits perfectly for
targeting areas in the whole Eurasian mass-land
[Kolokol] [May 23, 2007] [#]
Kolokol:
Agreed. Sounds like a sensible change in defense policy.
Frank Shuler
USA
An indication of this change would be a re-shape of the Tu-22M3 war-load. After all Kh-22 are
quite obsolete leaving just the Kh-15 as an "up to date" weapon.
Smart bombs and new AS stand-off missiles (like i.e. Klub and/or Onix) would be a feasible
option.
[Kolokol] [May 25, 2007] [#]
Kolokol:
The Tu-22M3, even with stand-off munitions available today, is a better solution to many of
Russias security needs that IRBMs. The Backfire is still an incredible warplane. Thats where I
would invest my budget.
Frank Shuler
USA
I agree with you Frank. Bakcfires with a deep modernization package are very well fitted to
cover up to 5.000 km farther than the Russian border. If Russia is interested in saving the
INF, the Tu-22 will be the weapon of choice. Anyway, a new/modernized set of missiles will
be needed (I.e something like the Skybolt will be very interesting). Also, the electronic set
used to deliver smart bombs, but I think this is considered in the ongoing AirFleet
modernization plan.
[Kolokol] [May 25, 2007] [#]
Now what's this RS-24 I've been reading about today?
"Russia has test-launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile, Russian military officials
say...
The missile, called RS-24, can be armed with up to 10 warheads and was designed to evade
missile defence systems, the Russian defence ministry says...
The missile, called RS-24, can be armed with up to 10 warheads and was designed to evade
missile defence systems, the Russian defence ministry says."
[Vincent] [May 29, 2007] [#]
That last segment should read...
"RS-24 will replace ICBMs of the previous generations RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto) and RS-20 (SS-
18 Satan) capable of carrying six and ten warheads respectively, the spokesman said."
[Vincent] [May 29, 2007] [#]
Is it just the SS-24 'scalpel'? Are they restarting production? Or is this a modernised version
of that missile? A development on it? Either way, very curious.
[Vincent] [May 29, 2007] [#]
There is no "RS-24" previously known. I bet this is the usual game with names but with an
old system.
[Kolokol] [May 29, 2007] [#]
But they do mention it can carry 10 warheads, so is it a new heavy ICBM? And if not, which
old system are they renaming?

[Vincent] [May 29, 2007] [#]
> The Backfire is still an incredible warplane. Thats where I would invest my budget.
- But Sukhoi T4MS could be even more cool object of investments... :-)
Here's two birds on the fly...

[Russian] [May 29, 2007] [#]
american, russia , iran, europa..its the only names in world force now ...but ana but thers
appear for the waiting effect force. world reail force will appear soon from source of sources
,will appear from far land ,new location in heart of world , soliders was rest from tousands
years and time of wake up is will coming ,, (army of quraan)
[slave of allaah b2b] [June 6, 2007] [#]
In my opinion its not practical to equip Russian MIRVs with warheads that are less than
100kts, reduced firepower in strike weapons eliminates their principal purpose, to cause as
much destruction as possible.
I believe Russia should develop a new warhead that is simillar to the American W88. This
should allow them to arm their missiles with 10 MIRVs each capable of 450+ kilotons yield.
[Nakajima ] [November 26, 2008] [#]
,
1986 . -
29, 1987 . -29 1988 . -9.-100
. 1985 . .
..
[M.A.Pashnev] [February 5, 2011] [#]
For those who don't read Russian - the point of the comment above is that "according to
published official data" the Soviet warhead with the smallest yield was deployed on R-29RM
and R-39. It had a yield of 100 kt.
My take is that we need to see those "published official data" to make any conclusions. At this
point, I see no reason to doubt Katayev's data, which give 75 kt for the R-39 warhead.
[Pavel Podvig ] [February 6, 2011] [#]
! - "-85,, .
..", .
"" . ,,
makeyev.msk.ru
[M.A.Pashnev] [February 6, 2011] [#]
What yield Kataev's data give for a R-27 SLBM?

For a Kh-22?
For a Kh-55?
For a gravity bombs ?
For a Meteorit?
This is quite interesting.
[Baster] [August 21, 2011] [#]
Pavel
Thanks for very interesting data. Still some comments/suggestions.
1. "Historical data show that the weight of warheads comes to about half of the declared
throw-weight of a missile."
The sole purpose of the bus is to give warheads a small lateral speeds to guide them to
individual targets. There is absolutely no physics or engineering need in making it half the
throw weight. Penetration aids are first not needed (since there is no working ABM) and
second their usefulness is questionable, since future advanced ABM systems can be able to
distinguish between them and real warheads. In any case, if penetration aids are included
they should be light. Probably the bus weight of 25% of throw weight is achievable easily
enough.
The real reason behind "Historical data" is probably that because of arm reduction treaties and
other reasons, the missiles were not equipped to the maximum possible number of warheads.
Now when Russia tries to have warheads at as small cost as possible its logical to assume
that all available throw weight will be used.
2. "Another option for Topol-M would be to have three warheads of the type deployed on R-

23UTTH/SS-24 - at about 200 kg each they would take about half of the throw-weight of the
missile. With the yield of 400 kt, they would be more in line with the historic trend."
With 100kt US warhead weight of 90kg it is highly unlikely (read impossible) that soviet 400kt
warhead will be only 2 times heavier. Especially since soviet warheads have always been
heavier then their American counterparts.
The RT-23 400kt warhead (which by the way in many places is reported as 550kt) should be
more like 300kg. Then everything falls into place: RT-23 has 10 400kt warheads which take
75% of throw weight (3000kg out of 4000). RS-24 has 3 400kt warheads which again take
75% of throw weight (900kg out of 1200kg).
3. "This means that each of the six declared Bulava warheads would weigh about 90 kg. The
most lightweight warheads deployed in the Soviet Union and Russia so far were those of R-
29R and R-39 missiles, with weights in the 110-130 kg range (this includes reentry vehicle
body and electronics) and yields of 50 and 75 kt respectively."
Bulava throw weight is declared as 1150 kg. But according to leaked designs (see Wikipedia),
on Bulava the bus is combined with its liquid fuel 3rd stage. That means bus is probably not
included in Bulava throw weight (since 3rd stage is doing a bus work). So almost all of 1150
kg can be used for warheads.
In this light the claims that Bulava can have 10 warheads seems pretty reasonable: it can
have 10 x 50kt 110kg warheads for example.
Currently it is declared that Bulava will have 6 150kt warheads. Given 90kg US 100kt
warhead, its reasonably to assume that Russian 150kt warhead would weight 150kg, which
gives 900kg for 6 warheads and sits nicely in Bulava.
4. And lastly "But then again, nothing of this really matters - none of these new warheads
have any reasonable mission."
I don't agree. However unlikely, Russia must be prepared for sudden decapitating nuclear
strike from the US. That's what all nuclear deterrent is about, and why Russia has nuclear
weapons in the first place.
With such a strike US is easily able to destroy all Russian missiles except deployed road
mobile launchers and submarines on patrol. Part of the latter will also be destroyed since US
satellite and other intelligence is best in the world and getting better all the time.
With 90-95% warheads destroyed by the first strike, its not inconceivable that the rest will be
destroyed by future layered missile defense systems.
On the other side, unlike Soviet Union, Russia doesn't have money or industry to build
thousands of intercontinental ballistic missiles anymore.
To be able to guarantee response after US first strike, the force of 1000-2000 warheads is
needed, all of which should be either road mobile or based on new built (ultra stealthy)
submarines. Thus, the only option for Russia is to put as many warheads on each missile as
possible.
If history (Hiroshima) has taught as anything, its that nuclear weapons are not games.
Nuclear deterrent is the only way to guarantee that they will not be used again.
[Dmitri ] [February 13, 2012] [#]
Nakajima
You can't put 10 475kt W88 warheads in Topol or Bulava. This warhead is too heavy: 360kg.
But 100kt W76 weights only 90kg. You can put 10 of them in these missiles.
And about "their principal purpose, to cause as much destruction as possible." its not really
correct. Their purpose its to deter any country from attacking Russia.
It doesn't matter if 475kt or 100kt warheads detonate over Washington DC., New York and
Los Angeles. What matters is that/if Russia can guarantee it in any scenario. And more
warheads it has - the better the guarantee.
[Dmitri ] [February 13, 2012] [#]
W76's weight-170 pounds with RV body.

[Anonymous] [February 15, 2012] [#]
W76 was not lighest US warhead.
Mk 18 RV have a 150 pounds (LANL designed 4 warheads for it) and in 1967 plans were to
put as many as 8 Mk 18 Rvs on Minuteman 3.
[Anonymous] [February 27, 2012] [#]
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Military space - Navigation - Glonass - Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Military space] [Navigation] [Glonass]

Search
Current status
Glonass
Overview Search
Rocket Forces The navigation system known as Glonass is the Soviet/Russian equivalent of
Strategic fleet the U.S. Navstar/GPS system. Like its U.S. counterpart, it includes satellites
Strategic aviation deployed on semi-synchronous circular orbits with altitudes of 20000 km. Recent posts
Early warning There are also differences in configuration - the Russian system includes 24 One of the Bulava missiles
Military space satellites deployed in three orbital planes (as opposed to four orbital planes for missed its targets
GPS). Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic
bombers used in Syria strikes
Featured articles
Status of the constellation Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
Very modest First launch of the Tundra early-
expectations: Official bulletins with the current status of the Glonass constellation are warning satellite
Performance of available at the web site of the Informational Analytical Center of the Two Bulava missiles launched
Moscow missile
defense
TsNIIMash. The Center also publishes its own estimates of the constellation from Vladimir Monomakh
How many warheads?

status: Is Russia working on a massive
dirty bomb?
Bulava Official Glonass bulletin (RU) Vladimir Monomakh to conduct
salvo Bulava launch
The book Status of the constellation (RU) Russia tests command and
control system in an exercise
Status of the constellation (EN) with multiple missile launches
The table below is based on the information of these bulletins. Test of silo-based RS-24 Yars
from Plesetsk
NORAD number Intl designation Plane/Point Construction of an early-warning
Russian radar in Vorkuta
NORAD name Glonass number
designation
26564 Cosmos-2375 2000-063A 787 3/17 [1] Archive
26565 Cosmos-2376 2000-063B 788 3/24 [1] Administrivia
26566 Cosmos-2374 2000-063C 783 3/18 [1] Arms control
26987 Cosmos-2382 2001-053A 711 1/05 [1][2] Aviation
Overview
26988 Cosmos-2381 2001-053B 789 1/03 [1] Budget
Reviews
26989 Cosmos-2380 2001-053C 790 1/06 [1] Early warning
Contents
27617 Cosmos-2394 2002-060A 791 3/22 [1] Government
Authors
27618 Cosmos-2396 2002-060B 793 3/20 [1] Industry
Order
27619 Cosmos-2395 2002-060C 792 3/21 [1] International affairs
Russian edition
28112 Cosmos-2404 2003-056A 701 1/06 [1][3] Misc
28113 Cosmos-2402 2003-056B 794 1/02 [1] Missile defense
About the project
28114 Cosmos-2403 2003-056C 795 1/04 [1] Navy
History 28508 Cosmos-2413 Cosmos-2411 2004-053A 796 1/01 [1] Nuclear complex
Contributors 28509 Cosmos-2411 Cosmos-2413 2004-053B 712 1/07 [6][3] Rocket Forces
Contact information 28510 Cosmos-2412 2004-053C 797 1/08 [1] Space
28915 Cosmos-2419 2005-050A 714 3/17 [3,4,6] Strategic forces
28916 Cosmos-2418 2005-050B 713 3/24 [1][3]
28917 Cosmos-2417 2005-050C 798 3/22 [1] Syndicate
29670 Cosmos-2425 2006-062A 716 2/15 [3] RSS feed
29671 Cosmos-2426 2006-062B 717 2/10 [3] [What is RSS feed?]
29672 Cosmos-2424 2006-062C 715 2/14 [3]
32275 Cosmos-2433 2007-052A 720 3/19 [3]
Subscribe
32276 Cosmos-2432 2007-052B 719 3/20 [3]
32277 Cosmos-2431 2007-052C 718 3/17 [1][3] email address
32393 Cosmos-2434 2007-065A 721 2/13 [3] Submit
32394 Cosmos-2435 2007-065B 722 2/14 [3,4,6] [More about subscription]

32395 Cosmos-2436 2007-065C 723 2/11 [3]
33378 Cosmos-2442 2008-046A 724 3/18 [3] Powered by
33379 Cosmos-2443 2008-046B 725 3/21 [3]
33380 Cosmos-2444 2008-046C 726 3/22 [1][3]
33466 Cosmos-2447 2008-067A 727 1/03 [1][3]
33467 Cosmos-2449 2008-067B 729 1/08 [1][3]
33468 Cosmos-2448 2008-067C 728 1/02 [3]
36111 Cosmos-2456 2009-070A 730 1/01 [3]
36112 Cosmos-2457 2009-070B 733 1/06 [4][3]
36113 Cosmos-2458 2009-070C 734 1/05 [3]
36400 Cosmos-2459 2010-007A 731 3/22 [3]
http://russianforces.org/space/navigation/glonass.shtml[11/26/2015 12:14:25 PM]

Military space - Navigation - Glonass - Russian strategic nuclear forces
36401 Cosmos-2461 2010-007B 735 3/24 [3]

36402 Cosmos-2460 2010-007C 732 3/23 [3]
37137 Cosmos-2466 2010-041A 738 2/16 [3]
37138 Cosmos-2465 2010-041B 737 2/12 [3]
37139 Cosmos-2464 2010-041C 736 2/09 [3]
37372 Cosmos-2471 2011-009A 701 3/20 [5]
37829 Cosmos-2474 2011-055A 742 1/04 [3]
37867 Cosmos-2476 2010-064A 744 1/03 [3]
37868 Cosmos-2477 2010-064B 745 1/07 [3]
37869 Cosmos-2475 2010-064C 743 1/08 [3]
37938 Cosmos-2478 2011-071A 746 3/17 [3]
39155 Cosmos-2485 2013-019A 747 1/02 [3]
[1] Withdrawn from constellation (as of May 1, 2013)
[2] Glonass-M prototype
[3] Glonass-M
[4] Moved to its current position from a different point
[5] Glonass-K, undergoing tests (as of May 1, 2013)
[6] Orbital reserve (as of May 1, 2013)
Recent launches
1. December 10, 2003

5. October 26, 2007
7. September 25, 2008

10. March 1, 2010 (UTC)
11. September 2, 2010
12. December 5, 2010 (failure)
13. February 26, 2011

14. October 2, 2011 (UTC)
15. November 4, 2011
16. November 28, 2011

17. April 26, 2013
[May 1, 2013] [#]
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Military space - Russian strategic nuclear forces
http://russianforces.org/space/[11/26/2015 12:13:36 PM]

Russia to Add 40 New ICBMs: Should the West Be Worried? | The Diplomat
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The RS-24 Yars (SS-27), Russias newest operational fifth-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Russia to Add 40 New ICBMs: Should the West Be Worried?

Whats the Status of Russias Nuclear Forces in 2015?
http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/russia-to-add-40-new-icbms-should-the-west-be-worried/[11/26/2015 12:08:48 PM]
By Franz-Stefan Gady
June 17, 2015
3.5k Shares
28 Comments
Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will increase its nuclear weapons arsenal in a response to NATOs alleged conventional
military buildup in Europe amidst growing tensions over Ukraine.
The Washington Post quotes from speech that Vladimir Putin delivered to inaugurate Russias military Disneyland - a high-tech military exposition
outside Moscow in which he stated that his country will add 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to its nuclear arsenal capable of
overcoming any, even the most technically sophisticated, missile defense systems.
While Putins statement yesterday is indeed worrying, it nevertheless appears to reduce the number of new missiles when comparing his remarks to a
previous announcement he made six months ago, where he stated that Russias Strategic Rocket Forces will receive 50 new ICBMs in 2015.
The new weapons will in all likelihood be RS-24 Yars (SS-27) rockets, Russias newest operational fifth-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM),
whichcan carry multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads and was first introduced into service in July 2010. The RS-24 ICBM together with the
single-warhead RS-12M2 ICBM (Topol-M missile system) will be the mainstay of Moscows future Strategic Missile Forces (RSMF) main attack force.
As I noted in a piece for the June issue of The Diplomat Magazine, Russia is in the middle of modernizing its strategic and nonstrategic nuclear warheads.
According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Moscow has currently 4,500 nuclear warheads, of which roughly 1,780 strategic warheads are deployed
on missiles and at bomber bases. An additional 700 strategic warheads are kept in storage along with approximately 2,000 nonstrategic warheads. Russia
deploys an estimated 311 ICBMs that can carry approximately 1,050 warheads, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists further notes.
The publication also points out:
There are many uncertainties about the status and future of Russias nuclear arsenal. One is poor transparency, due to New START having
discontinued public release of detailed aggregate numbers and the fact that Moscow does not publish comprehensive information about its
nuclear forces. The increasing diversity of the Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force creates additional uncertainty.
In 2010, President Vladimir Putin announced a massive 20 trillion rubles military modernization project aimed to replace 70 percent of Soviet-era military
hardware by 2020, including 50 new warships for the navy, hundreds of new fighter jets, thousands of new vehicles for the ground forces, and the complete
modernization of Russias strategic nuclear forces.
According to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists:
In February 2012, then-Prime Minister (now President) Vladimir Putin stated that the military would receive more than 400 advanced
ground and sea-based intercontinental ballistic missiles over the coming decade, or an average of 40 missiles per year.
These numbers , however, could be difficult to sustain, least of all because of the financial costs involved as the New York Times points out:
Russia, given its economic problems, probably cannot afford even the weapons that Mr. Putin has pledged to deliver by 2020. Six months
ago, he said the country would add 50 ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal this year, and at least one senior Russian military official has
indicated publicly that the Kremlins appetite exceeds its wallet.
I also wrote about Russias difficulties in maintaining the current pace of military modernization, given the countrys current economic reality (see: Is the
Worlds Deadliest Tank Bankrupting Russia):
Russia cannot afford military expenditures at such scale in the long-run () The only way for Russia to currently finance its growing
military expenditure is to tap into the countrys reserve fund money the Kremlin put aside over the last few years when oil prices were high

andmeant to cushion the economy against shocks (). Yet, this calculation may perhaps be too optimistic ().
According to a Russian-born scholar: Russia has already spent more than half of its total military budget for 2015. At this rate, its reserve fund will be
emptied before the end of the year.
However, Russia is indeed in the process of retiring all Soviet-era ICBMs and replacing them with new weapon systems, a project that is about halfway
complete, according to Western estimates. The estimated completion date for the replacement of all Soviet legacy systems remains 2022.
Topics Asia Defense
Tags Russia Russia military budget Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin
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28 Comments The Diplomat 1 Login
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Anjaan Aadmi 5 months ago
Russia is the energy, nuclear and space superpower of the world and a leading countriy in the world with no debt ... the western media propaganda about
Russia running out of money is pure speculation, and desperate attempt to demoralize the Russian people ... !!
5 Reply Share
Valkyrie > Anjaan Aadmi 5 months ago
Maybe you should move to Russia? How many Indians immigrate to Russia? Not too many. How many Indians immigrate to US? A lot!
1 Reply Share
Myhazare hazare > Valkyrie a month ago
Immigration is not the parameter here....

I like many countries, that doesn't mean, I have to immigrate to all those countries.
1 Reply Share
Myhazare hazare > Anjaan Aadmi a month ago
Boss I support your stand and I'm an Indian.
Reply Share
Christian Lewis > Anjaan Aadmi 5 months ago
Western Propaganda? Or a market reality. You only have to look at economic data coming from Russia itself to see its unsustainable. Get real
Anjaan.
Reply Share

Anjaan Aadmi > Christian Lewis 5 months ago
Russia's economy is being systematically attacked by the west through sanctions ... but Russia will come out stronger ... just look at the US
national debt as compared to Russia ... rest all is data manipulation ... the US Fed can print billions and trillions of dollars without
significantly affecting the economy or the dollar, which is nothing but an illusion and a bubble ... the US can get away with as long as it can
control and manipulate the world economic order ... !!
1 Reply Share
Christian Lewis > Anjaan Aadmi 5 months ago
Ruble, Dollars, Yuan, Yen. Its all fiat. Its all an illusion. If you play the illusion right you can make people think your paper has value.
Russia has no debt, but it also doesn't have a diversified economy. Resource extraction and export, and defense tech export are the
pillars of the Russian economy.
If your economy isn't diversified its more vulnerable to shocks. If your economy is based around petrol and petrol prices falter...well
you see where this is leading.
Granted, Western Sanctions have hurt the Russian Economy, but who cares? Don't unilaterally annex and independent countries
territory and you won't freak people out. Its not as if they re under sanction in a vacuum.
Reply Share
Anjaan Aadmi > Christian Lewis 5 months ago
Agreed ... the Russian leadership must have gamed the sanctions and decided their course of action ... let us see how this
illusion versus the bubble thing play out in the long run ... !!
Reply Share
The Dark Knight 5 months ago
Why is this even news?

Theyre never going to increase the size of their total force, they are replacing aging systems.
Has anyone actually looked at their force lately?
Sure you can look at the numbers and see they are report to have (give or take)
36 silo-based R-36M2 (SS-18)
60 silo-based UR-100N (SS-19)
72 mobile RT-2PM "Topol" (SS-25)
60 silo-based RT-2UTTH "Topol M" (SS-27)
18 mobile RT-2UTTH "Topol M" (SS-27)
58 mobile and silo-based RS-24 "Yars" (SS-29 )

The reality is that the SS-18 and SS-19 will be phased out completely followed by the oldest SS-25s, which is going to leave the SS-27 and SS-29 to make up
the bulk of their land based ICBM force.
Saying theyre adding 40 more is pointless, because they dont have the production capacity or funding to produce more than they are trying to replace.
Theyre going to end up having less silo based systems than before and more mobile and they still have a gap on the SLBM side, until more SSBNs are
produced.
Numbers aside, talk is cheap, you need to actually look at the current state of the strategic rocket forces on imagery and its not a pretty picture. You can
see all their sites on google earth. There are a number of KMZ files out there, check out the IMINT & Analysis blog as a starting point. They are not the
threat they were in the 80s, hundreds of abandoned silos, garrison sites for the TELs, abandoned early warning radar sites.
1 Reply Share
Sasha Marjanovic > The Dark Knight 5 months ago
their nukes can carry over 12 warheads they produce yars they said by end of the 2018 they will gave 320 yars in use ! For your information their
budget for this fiscal years is 98 bln $ NATO is just wake up the bear that is sleeping winter dream from 1985-2015 Their Army has build up 16
Large stable anti missile shields in country with 14 radars stations 400 S-400 launchers to enters in service till 2018
3 Reply Share
The Dark Knight > Sasha Marjanovic 5 months ago
whatever you say comrade.....keeping drinking the state provided koolaid and listening to the Putin Propaganda machine
Reply Share
Sasha Marjanovic > The Dark Knight 5 months ago
lol first confirm that you are brainwashed dude is condemning everything what others say ! Dictator of America Zion
2 Reply Share
Kanes > The Dark Knight 5 months ago
Good numerical analysis but bad logic. Russia's vastness and low population density allows it to place their mobile ICBMs across a vast area. No
other country has this competitive advantage. All US ICBMs are static. US depends more on its airforce to deliver nukes whereas Russia primarily
depends on BMs. Which is faster and carries a bigger payload? 40 ICBMs a year is an impossible target but even if half is met, it is a game changer.
1 Reply Share
Sasha Marjanovic > Kanes 5 months ago
That's counted more before that tactic that you just said now it's called GLONASS

Reply Share
The Dark Knight > Kanes 5 months ago
Soviets/Russians have had mobile ICBMs for decades, this is nothing new and while they do have a large land mass, they don't actually
deploy these systems just anywhere.
You might actually want to look at one of the Google Earth KMLs that highlights Russia's nuclear arsenal. I think you would be a bit
surprised to see that the bulk of their force is in the east near the population centers, because that's where the command and control network
is located.
They have known garrison sites, training sites, depot maintainence sites and deployment areas. It's easy to see when they are in garrison or
not. If you think we're not monitoring these systems on a daily basis, then, you might actually want to read up on what the Intel Community
responsibilities really are.
Russia isn't the only country to deploy mobile ICBMs.......I guess you're ignoring China who went mobile in favor of static silos, as well as
India and Pakistan.
If NK ever joined the nuclear club, you can bet it would be using mobile systems as well.
US depending on the Air Force? Hello, nuclear Triad does that ring a bell? You're leaving out the Navy and the ballistic missile submarines,
which is a considerable portion of the nuclear arsenal.
Russia had the same at one point, strategic rocket forces controlling the silo based and mobile ICBMS, Air Force with the Bear, Blackjack
bombers and the Navy with their SSBNs
Sorry, but phasing out 40 old systems with 40 new isn't a game changer.....
Reply Share
Paul Ebai > The Dark Knight 5 months ago
Lets say america take on

russia and win then. Take
on china and win. Take on
Africa and win.take on india and win. Takee on latin america and win.
then what after ? Will this
world be a better place ?
The answer is noooi
Reply Share
Mark Laszlo > Paul Ebai 10 days ago
No, this world will be radioactive rubble.
Reply Share
The Dark Knight > Paul Ebai 5 months ago
ok.......but what does that have to do with the discussion?

Nobody was talking about taking on anyone, I was simply pointing out the diferences in nuclear arsenals between countries.
Reply Share
Mark Laszlo > The Dark Knight 10 days ago
Putin talks about taking on the USA. They may be behind us economically & in nuclear destructive ability, but he talks & act
like he is willing to use it. What do we have in Europe & on our Navy ships & subs all over the world? I think in the American
press we are not told the main part about why Putin is so mad at us & acts like his back is against the wall.
Reply Share
Paul Ebai > The Dark Knight 5 months ago
Where is your source from the

russians?
Reply Share
The Dark Knight > Paul Ebai 5 months ago
I believe I already said the source......looking at current satellite imagery on google earth and actually looking at the silos and support
facilities and garisson sites to see what;s operational or not.
Reply Share
Myhazare hazare a month ago
I think, India naturally like Russia.

Russians take a correct stand on World Matters.
India is always indebted to Russia for their solitary support in the 1971 war with Pakistan.
USA had sent nuclear power submarine to attack/threaten India.
USA is no world lover, it did like killings of so many people in Bangladesh and supported those killings and rapes by Pakistani Army by supporting Pakistan
during such time. So long and till date USA is funding Pakistan a terrorist state. It is donating them funds and providing them F 16s for charity.
I can imagine that the entire USA & European Union and their alleys working together to demoralize and break a single great nation RUSSIA. Any other
country would have collapsed by now with so much enemy countries. Similar to that INDIA is faced with many enemies and India should also take such
stands, eg. our great leaders had shown before to remain non-aligned.
Although Russia is affected by sanctions, it will bounce back stronger because it has better ethics, good spirits and principles than compared to USA. In the
long run USA will see itself in ruins, unless it maintains to correct itself. the principle of "as u sow, so u reap" will always stand.
Those groups created by USA stood against USA and made them bite dust by attacking WTC. Those who provide patronage to poisonous snakes will be bit

and killed by poisonous snakes. This ia the law of Karma.
Reply Share
Kanes 5 months ago
Russia must ration and prioritize as funds are drying up. ICBMs must take top priotiry. T-14s, T-50s and others should wait. For the time being tactical
nukes can be developed again to overcome any shortfall in conventional weapons capability.
Reply Share
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OCEANIA
2015 The Diplomat. All Rights Reserved.


Strategic Rocket Forces - Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Strategic Rocket Forces]

Search
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Strategic Rocket Forces
Overview Search
Rocket Forces Strategic Rocket Forces is a separate branch of the Russia's Armed Forces,
Strategic fleet subordinated directly to the General Staff. The current commander of the
Strategic aviation Strategic Rocket Forces -- Lt.-General Sergei Karakayev -- was appointed to Recent posts
Early warning this post by a presidential decree of 22 June 2010. One of the Bulava missiles
As of January 2015, the Strategic Rocket Forces were estimated to have 305
operational missile systems of five different types. Intercontinental ballistic bombers used in Syria strikes
Featured articles missiles of these systems could carry 1166 warheads. Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
expectations: Number of systems Total warheads
warning satellite
Performance of Missile system Warheads Deployment
Moscow missile
R-36M2 (SS-18) 46 10 460 Dombarovsky, Uzhur from Vladimir Monomakh
defense
UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) 60 6 360 Tatishchevo, Kozelsk Is Russia working on a massive
How many warheads?
dirty bomb?
Bulava Topol (SS-25) 72 1 72 Yoshkar-Ola, Barnaul, Vypolzovo
Topol-M silo (SS-27) 60 1 60 Tatishchevo salvo Bulava launch
The book Topol-M mobile (SS-27) 18 1 18 Teykovo Russia tests command and
RS-24 mobile 45 4 180 Teykovo, Novosibirsk,Nizhniy Tagil control system in an exercise
RS-24 silo 4 4 16 Kozelsk
Total 305 1166 from Plesetsk
radar in Vorkuta
Strategic Rocket Forces units Archive

Strategic Rocket Forces include three missile armies: the 27th Guards Missile Administrivia
Army (headquarters in Vladimir), the 31st Missile Army (Orenburg), the 33rd Arms control
Guards Missile Army (Omsk). The 53rd Missile Army (Chita) was disbanded in Aviation
Overview
2002. It appears that the 31st Missile Army (Orenburg) will be liquidated by Budget
Reviews
2016. Early warning
Contents
Government
Authors As of 2015, the missile armies included 11 missile divisions. Industry
Order
Number of missiles International affairs
Russian edition
Misc
Missile division Missile system
Missile defense
About the project 27th Guards Missile Army (Vladimir)
Navy
History Tatishchevo: 60th MD (Tatishchevo-5, Svetlyy) 40 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) Nuclear complex
Contributors 60 Topol-M silo (SS-27) Rocket Forces
Contact information Kozelsk: 28th GMD 20 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) Space
4 RS-24 Yars silo Strategic forces
Vypolzovo: 7th GMD (Ozernyy, Bologoye-4) 18 Topol (SS-25)
Teykovo: 54th GMD (Krasnyye Sosenki) 18 RS-24 mobile Syndicate
18 Topol-M mobile (SS-27) RSS feed
Yoshkar-Ola: 14th MD 18 Topol (SS-25) [What is RSS feed?]
31st Missile Army (Rostoshi, Orenburg)
Dombarovsky: 13th MD (Yasnyy) 18 R-36M2 (SS-18) Subscribe
Nizhniy Tagil: 42nd MD (Verkhnyaya Salda, Nizhniy 18 RS-24 Yars email address
Tagil-41, Svobodnyy)
Submit
33rd Guards Missile Army (Omsk)
Uzhur: 62nd MD (Uzhur-4, Solnechnyy) 28 R-36M2 (SS-18)
Novosibirsk: 39th GMD (Novosibirsk-95, Pashino, 9 RS-24 Yars mobile Powered by
Gvardeiskiy)
Irkutsk: 29th GMD (Zelenyy) 0 Topol (SS-25) Movable Type 4.31-en
Barnaul: 35th MD (Sibirskiy-2) 36 Topol (SS-25)
MD - Missile Division, GMD - Guards Missile Division
Missile systems
R-36M2 (RS-20V, SS-18) missiles were developed by the Yuzhnoye Design
Bureau (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine). The missiles were deployed in 1988-1992.
http://russianforces.org/missiles/[11/26/2015 12:11:24 PM]

The missiles, produced by the Yuzhnyy Machine-Building Plant

(Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine), have two liquid-fuel stages and can carry 10
warheads. The Strategic Rocket Forces plans to keep all R-36M2 missiles in
service until 2022.
UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) missiles were developed by the Machine-Building NPO

(Reutov, Moscow oblast) and were deployed in 1979-1984. The missiles were
produced by the M. V. Khrunichev Machine Building Plant (Moscow). The missile
has two liquid-fuel stages and can carry 6 warheads. A number of missiles
have been removed from service, but after a series of test launches service life
of the missile was extended to more than 30 years, so some of them could be
kept in service until 2019.
Road-mobile Topol (SS-25) missile system was developed at the Moscow

Institute of Thermal Technology. The systems were deployed in 1985-1992. The
missile has three solid-propellant stages and carries single warhead. The
missiles were produced at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. The currently
deployed missiles are close to the end of their service lives and are being
withdrawn from service.
Topol-M (SS-27) and RS-24 missile systems have been developed at the
Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. Topol-M exists in two versions -- silo-
based and road-mobile. Deployment of the silo-based version began in 1997.
The road-mobile version has completed flight tests in December 2004. The first
mobile missiles began service in December 2006. The missile has three solid-
propellant stages and was initially developed as a single-warhead missile. In
2007 Russia began tests of a MIRVed version of the Topol-M mobile missile,
which was designated RS-24. Deployment of this missile began in 2010.
[January 15, 2015] [#]
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Strategic aviation - Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Strategic aviation]

Search
Current status
Strategic aviation
Overview Search
Rocket Forces Strategic aviation units form the Long-range Aviation Command of the Russian
Strategic fleet Air Force. The commander -- Lt.-General Anatoli Zhikharev -- was appointed by
Strategic aviation a presidential decree on 19 September 2009. Recent posts
Early warning One of the Bulava missiles
As of January 2015, the Long-range Aviation Command was estimated to
include 66 operational strategic bombers.
bombers used in Syria strikes
Featured articles Number of bombers Total cruise missiles
Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
Number of cruise missiles and their
Bomber type
Performance of Tu-95MS(Bear H) 55 up to 16 Kh-55 (AS-15A) ?
Moscow missile Tu-160 (Blackjack) 11 12 Kh-55SM (AS-15B) ? from Vladimir Monomakh
defense
Total 66 ~200 Is Russia working on a massive
How many warheads?
dirty bomb?
Bulava
Strategic aviation units salvo Bulava launch
The book TheLong-range Aviation Commandincludes two heavy-bomber divisions of Tu- Russia tests command and
160 and Tu-95MS aircraft. In addition to these, the army includes four with multiple missile launches
divisions of Tu-22M3 (Backfire C) bombers. Test of silo-based RS-24 Yars
from Plesetsk
The 6950th Guards Air Base (formerly 22nd Guards Heavy-Bomber
Division)in Engels (Saratov oblast), includes two bomber regiments: the 121st radar in Vorkuta
Guards regiment of Tu-160 bombers and the 184th regiment of Tu-95MS
bombers.
Archive
In addition to this, the air base may include the 203rd Regiment of Il-78 Administrivia
tankers, which is based in Ryazan. Ryazan is also a place of a training center, Arms control
which can be used a base for bombers of the division. Aviation
Overview
Budget
Reviews The 6952nd Air Base (formerly 326th Heavy-Bomber Division)in Ukrainka
Early warning
Contents (Amurskaya oblast). The base includes the 79th regiment and 182nd Guards
Government
Authors regiments of Tu-95MS bombers.
Industry
Order
Russian edition Strategic bombers
Misc
The Tu-95MS (Bear H) strategic bomber was developed at the A. N. Tupolev Missile defense
About the project Design Bureau. Serial production of the bomber continued from 1984 to 1991 Navy
History at the aviation plant in Kuybyshev (currently Aviakor Aviation Plant, Samara). Nuclear complex
Contributors The bomber is equipped with turboprop engines. It can carry six Kh-55 cruise Rocket Forces
Contact information missiles in the bomb bay. The Tu-95MS16 version of the bomber can carry Space
additional ten missiles under wings, but this significantly reduces bomber's Strategic forces
range.
Syndicate
The Tu-160 (Blackjack) strategic bomber was developed at the A. N. Tupolev
Design Bureau and produced at the aviation plant in Kazan (currently S. P. RSS feed
Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Production Association). The bomber can carry 12 Kh- [What is RSS feed?]
55 cruise missiles in the bomb bay. During the modernization program that is
currently underway Tu-160 bombers will be equipped to carry gravity bombs Subscribe
and non-nuclear cruise missiles.
email address
Cruise missiles Submit

The Kh-55 (AS-15, RKV-500A) long-range air-launched cruise missiles were
developed at the Raduga Design Bureau (Dubna, Moscow oblast). Production of Powered by
the missiles began in 1983 at the Dubna Machine-Building Plant. The Kh-
55SM (AS-15B, RKV-500B) version of the missile, which can be deployed on Movable Type 4.31-en
Tu-160 bombers, has extra fuel tanks and extended range. An improved
version of the Kh-55 missiles is known as Kh-555. Reportedly, this missile is a
non-nuclear version of Kh-55, carried by Tu-160 bombers.
Russia has also developed a new long-range cruise missile,Kh-101,which

would probably replace Kh-55. It appears to be a further modification of Kh-55.
The missile was reportedly accepted for service in 2012. It's possible that the
http://russianforces.org/aviation/[11/26/2015 12:13:00 PM]

Strategic aviation - Russian strategic nuclear forces
conventional version of the missile is referred to as Kh-101, while the nuclear

version may be known asKh-102.
[January 8, 2015] [#]
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Strategic fleet - Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Strategic fleet]

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Current status
Strategic fleet
Overview Search
Rocket Forces Strategic naval forces are an integral part of the Russian Navy, which is a
Strategic fleet separate service of the Russia's Armed Forces. The current Commander-in-
Strategic aviation Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov, was appointed to this post on 6 Recent posts
Early warning May 2012. One of the Bulava missiles
As of January 2015, the Navy included 11 strategic submarines of three
different types, of which 8 had missiles on board. The operational submarines bombers used in Syria strikes
Featured articles carried 128 sea-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with 512 nuclear warheads. Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
expectations: Warheads warning satellite
Performance of Number of submarines Two Bulava missiles launched
Moscow missile
Strategic submarines Number of SLBMs and their type Total warheads from Vladimir Monomakh
defense
Project 667BDR (Delta III) 2 32 R-29R (SS-N-18) 3 96 Is Russia working on a massive
How many warheads?
dirty bomb?
Bulava Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) 6[1] 80 R-29RM (SS-N-23) 4 320
Project 941 (Typhoon) 1[2] - - salvo Bulava launch
The book Project 955 3[3] 16 R-30 Bulava 6 96 Russia tests command and
Total 11 128 512 with multiple missile launches
[1] One submarine is in overhaul. Its missiles are not accounted for in the total. Test of silo-based RS-24 Yars
[2] One submarine of the Project 941 type has been refitted as a test bed for the Bulava from Plesetsk
missile system. It is not counted in the total number of operational submarines. Construction of an early-warning
[3] As of January 2015, only one submarine had a full complement of missiles on board. radar in Vorkuta
Submarine bases Archive

The Russian Navy includes four fleets -- the Northern Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, Administrivia
the Baltic Fleet, and the Black Sea Fleet. Strategic submarines are deployed Arms control
with the Northern Fleet and the Pacific Fleet. Aviation
Overview
Budget
Reviews Northern Fleet Early warning
Contents
Northern Fleet headquarters is located in Severomorsk (Murmansk oblast). The Government
Authors
fleet includes a unified command of strategic submarines. Industry
Order
Russian edition The submarine units based in Gadzhiyevo (Yagelnaya Bay, Sayda Inlet) Misc
include five active Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) submarines - K-114 Tula, K-407 Missile defense
About the project Novomoskovsk, K-18 Karelia, K-117 Bryansk, and K-51 Verkhoturie, and K-84 Navy
History Ekaterinburg. One Project 667BDRM submarine - K-114 Tula -is currently Nuclear complex
Contributors undergoing overhaul. The lead submarine of the Project 955 class, Yuri Rocket Forces
Contact information Dolgorukiy, is also based in Gadzhiyevo. Space
Strategic forces
Pacific Fleet
Pacific Fleet headquarters is located in Vladivostok. Strategic submarines of the Syndicate

Pacific Fleet are included into the 16th Squadron, based in Vilyuchinsk RSS feed
(Rybachiy,Krasheninnikov Bay, Kamchatka Peninsula). The squadron includes
[What is RSS feed?]
two Project 667BDR submarines - K-223 Podolsk and K-433 Sv. Georgiy
Pobedonosets. K-44 Ryazan, which was transferred to Vilyuchinsk from the
Northern Fleet, has been moved to the Zvezda plant in 2012 and is likely to be Subscribe
decommissioned. The first Project 955 submarine - Alexander Nevskiy - arrived email address
in Vilyuchinsk on September 30, 2015. Vladimir Monomakh is expected to join Submit
it in 2016.
Strategic submarines
Powered by
All currently deployed strategic submarines were developed at the Rubin Movable Type 4.31-en
Central Design Bureau of Naval Equipment (St-Petersburg). All currently
deployed strategic submarines were built at the Northern Machine-Building
Production Association (Severodvinsk, Archangelsk oblast).
Submarines of the Project 667BDR (Delta III) class entered service in 1976-
1982. The total of 14 ships of this class were built. These submarines carry the
D-16R missile system with 16 R-29R (SS-N-18) missiles. Submarines of this
class are being withdrawn from service.
http://russianforces.org/navy/[11/26/2015 12:12:28 PM]

Strategic fleet - Russian strategic nuclear forces
Submarines of the Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) class entered service in

1985-1991. The total of 7 ships of this class were built, of which one (K-64
Vladimir) has been converted into a special-forces submarine. Submarines of
this class carry the D-16RM missile system with 16 R-29RM (SS-N-23)
missiles. The current plans call for keeping six 667BDRM submarines in service,
so the submarines are undergoing overhaul during which they are equipped
with new missiles.
Project 941 (Typhoon) submarines were deployed in 1981-1989. The total of

six submarines of this class were built. Submarines of this class carry the D-19
missile system with 20 R-39 (SS-N-20) missiles. Since the missiles have
reached end of their service lives, Project 941 submarines have been
withdrawn from service. The only exception is the lead ship of the class, TK-
208 Dmitry Donskoy, which has been refitted for tests of a new missile system,
R-30 Bulava.
In 1996 Russia began construction of a strategic submarine of a new class,

Project 955 (also known as Borey or Yuri Dolgorukiy). Submarines of this
class will carry 16 Bulava launchers.The lead ship, Yuri Dolgorukiy, joined the
Northern Fleet in December 2013 and received its full complement of missiles
in 2014. Subsequent Project 955 submarines are expected to join the Pacific
Fleet. As of January 2015, three submarines had been accepted for service -
Yuri Dolgorukiy, Alexander Nevskiy, and Vladimir Monomakh. Three more
submarines are under construction - Knyaz Vladimir (laid down in July 2012),
Knyaz Oleg (July 2014), and Generalissimus Suvorov (December 2014).
Sea-launched ballistic missiles

All currently deployed sea-launched ballistic missiles were developed at the
Machine-Building Design Bureau (Miass, Chelyabinsk oblast). The design bureau
is currently named the V. P. Makeyev State Missile Center.
R-29R (SS-N-18) missiles are deployed on Project 667BDR submarines. The
system was accepted for service in 1979. The missile has two liquid-fuel stages
and carries three warheads. The missiles were produced at the Krasnoyarsk
Machine-Building Plant.
R-29RM (SS-N-23) missiles are deployed on Project 667BDRM submarines.
The system was accepted for service in 1986. The missile has three liquid-fuel
stages (the third stage also works as a bus) and carries four warheads. In
1999 Russia resumed production of these missiles, in a modification known as
Sineva, to be deployed on Project 667BDRM submarines during overhaul.
Launch tests of the Sineva missile were completed in June 2004 and it was
accepted for service in July 2007. Another modification of R-29RM, known as
Liner, could carry up to 10 warheads.
Russia is currently developing a new sea-launched ballistic missile, known as
R-30 Bulava. Development of this missile is done at the Moscow Institute of
Thermal Technology. Flight tests of the missile began in September 2005. The
new missile system will be deployed on Project 955 submarines. Bulava was
declared as carrying six warheads.
[September 30, 2015] [#]
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[Russian version] [Home] [Strategic Rocket Forces]

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Current status
Strategic Rocket Forces
Overview Search
Rocket Forces Strategic Rocket Forces is a separate branch of the Russia's Armed Forces,
Strategic fleet subordinated directly to the General Staff. The current commander of the
Strategic aviation Strategic Rocket Forces -- Lt.-General Sergei Karakayev -- was appointed to Recent posts
Early warning this post by a presidential decree of 22 June 2010. One of the Bulava missiles
As of January 2015, the Strategic Rocket Forces were estimated to have 305
operational missile systems of five different types. Intercontinental ballistic bombers used in Syria strikes
Featured articles missiles of these systems could carry 1166 warheads. Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
expectations: Number of systems Total warheads
warning satellite
Performance of Missile system Warheads Deployment
Moscow missile
R-36M2 (SS-18) 46 10 460 Dombarovsky, Uzhur from Vladimir Monomakh
defense
UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) 60 6 360 Tatishchevo, Kozelsk Is Russia working on a massive
How many warheads?
dirty bomb?
Bulava Topol (SS-25) 72 1 72 Yoshkar-Ola, Barnaul, Vypolzovo
Topol-M silo (SS-27) 60 1 60 Tatishchevo salvo Bulava launch
The book Topol-M mobile (SS-27) 18 1 18 Teykovo Russia tests command and
RS-24 mobile 45 4 180 Teykovo, Novosibirsk,Nizhniy Tagil control system in an exercise
RS-24 silo 4 4 16 Kozelsk
Total 305 1166 from Plesetsk
radar in Vorkuta
Strategic Rocket Forces units Archive

Strategic Rocket Forces include three missile armies: the 27th Guards Missile Administrivia
Army (headquarters in Vladimir), the 31st Missile Army (Orenburg), the 33rd Arms control
Guards Missile Army (Omsk). The 53rd Missile Army (Chita) was disbanded in Aviation
Overview
2002. It appears that the 31st Missile Army (Orenburg) will be liquidated by Budget
Reviews
2016. Early warning
Contents
Government
Authors As of 2015, the missile armies included 11 missile divisions. Industry
Order
Number of missiles International affairs
Russian edition
Misc
Missile division Missile system
Missile defense
About the project 27th Guards Missile Army (Vladimir)
Navy
History Tatishchevo: 60th MD (Tatishchevo-5, Svetlyy) 40 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) Nuclear complex
Contributors 60 Topol-M silo (SS-27) Rocket Forces
Contact information Kozelsk: 28th GMD 20 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) Space
4 RS-24 Yars silo Strategic forces
Vypolzovo: 7th GMD (Ozernyy, Bologoye-4) 18 Topol (SS-25)
Teykovo: 54th GMD (Krasnyye Sosenki) 18 RS-24 mobile Syndicate
18 Topol-M mobile (SS-27) RSS feed
Yoshkar-Ola: 14th MD 18 Topol (SS-25) [What is RSS feed?]
31st Missile Army (Rostoshi, Orenburg)
Dombarovsky: 13th MD (Yasnyy) 18 R-36M2 (SS-18) Subscribe
Nizhniy Tagil: 42nd MD (Verkhnyaya Salda, Nizhniy 18 RS-24 Yars email address
Tagil-41, Svobodnyy)
Submit
33rd Guards Missile Army (Omsk)
Uzhur: 62nd MD (Uzhur-4, Solnechnyy) 28 R-36M2 (SS-18)
Novosibirsk: 39th GMD (Novosibirsk-95, Pashino, 9 RS-24 Yars mobile Powered by
Gvardeiskiy)
Irkutsk: 29th GMD (Zelenyy) 0 Topol (SS-25) Movable Type 4.31-en
Barnaul: 35th MD (Sibirskiy-2) 36 Topol (SS-25)
MD - Missile Division, GMD - Guards Missile Division
Missile systems
R-36M2 (RS-20V, SS-18) missiles were developed by the Yuzhnoye Design
Bureau (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine). The missiles were deployed in 1988-1992.

The missiles, produced by the Yuzhnyy Machine-Building Plant

(Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine), have two liquid-fuel stages and can carry 10
warheads. The Strategic Rocket Forces plans to keep all R-36M2 missiles in
service until 2022.
UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) missiles were developed by the Machine-Building NPO

(Reutov, Moscow oblast) and were deployed in 1979-1984. The missiles were
produced by the M. V. Khrunichev Machine Building Plant (Moscow). The missile
has two liquid-fuel stages and can carry 6 warheads. A number of missiles
have been removed from service, but after a series of test launches service life
of the missile was extended to more than 30 years, so some of them could be
kept in service until 2019.
Road-mobile Topol (SS-25) missile system was developed at the Moscow

Institute of Thermal Technology. The systems were deployed in 1985-1992. The
missile has three solid-propellant stages and carries single warhead. The
missiles were produced at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. The currently
deployed missiles are close to the end of their service lives and are being
withdrawn from service.
Topol-M (SS-27) and RS-24 missile systems have been developed at the
Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. Topol-M exists in two versions -- silo-
based and road-mobile. Deployment of the silo-based version began in 1997.
The road-mobile version has completed flight tests in December 2004. The first
mobile missiles began service in December 2006. The missile has three solid-
propellant stages and was initially developed as a single-warhead missile. In
2007 Russia began tests of a MIRVed version of the Topol-M mobile missile,
which was designated RS-24. Deployment of this missile began in 2010.
[January 15, 2015] [#]
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Very modest expectations: Performance of Moscow missile defense - Blog - Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Blog] [Very modest expectations: Performance of Moscow missile defense]
Search
Current status
Very modest expectations: Performance of Moscow missile
Overview defense Search
Rocket Forces
Strategic fleet One of the reasons missile defense has
Strategic aviation always been a controversial idea is that it is Recent posts
Early warning impossible to know how well the defense One of the Bulava missiles
Military space would perform if it is ever used in the missed its targets
context of a nuclear attack. This Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic
fundamental uncertainty creates a situation bombers used in Syria strikes
Featured articles
in which you could get away with almost Topol launch from Kapustin Yar
expectations:
any statement about missile defense. If
warning satellite
Performance of you are in the business of building up your
Moscow missile nuclear forces, you could easily argue that from Vladimir Monomakh
defense you need more warheads to penetrate Is Russia working on a massive
How many warheads? defenses. On the other hand, if you are in dirty bomb?
Bulava the missile defense business, you could Vladimir Monomakh to conduct
always say that your system will provide salvo Bulava launch
The book adequate protection against the missile Russia tests command and
threat of the day. These kind of arguments control system in an exercise
always worked well during the cold war and
are still working today - on both sides of
from Plesetsk
the debate.
radar in Vorkuta
The Soviet missile defense program provides
a very interesting and important data point
in this discussion. We have some idea of what the United States thought it Archive
needed to defeat the Soviet system. Thanks to the Katayev archive, we now Administrivia
have the numbers that describe Soviet estimates of the performance of the Arms control
Moscow ABM system. One document in the archive, reproduced here and Aviation
Overview translated below, contains a brief description of the program as it stood in Budget
Reviews 1985. Other documents in the archive provide some useful context. Early warning
Contents
Government
Authors As the Soviet documents clearly show, the system was never expected to offer
Industry
Order anything but a very modest intercept capability - the currently deployed A-135
Russian edition system was expected to intercept no more than 1-2 ballistic missiles. The
Misc
document is a bit vague on the definition of a ballistic missile in this case, but
Missile defense
About the project it does not seem to mean 1-2 MX-type ICBMs with 10 warheads each - it is
Navy
more like 1-2 "complex ballistic targets", each of them being a single warhead
surrounded by decoys and penetration aids. I guess that given that Moscow
was expected to be quite densely targeted some of these "complex ballistic
targets" could include a few warheads (here is where nuclear intercept would
Strategic forces
come handy).The capability provided by the A-135 predecessor, A-35, was
even more modest - "a single ballistic missile from some directions." Here
Syndicate
"single" probably meant just a single warhead.
RSS feed
These numbers are of course particularly interesting when compared with the
[What is RSS feed?]
number of warheads that were dedicated to defeating the Moscow ABM. In
their Protection Paradoxpaper Hans Kristensen, Matthew McKinzie, and Stan
Norris estimated that in 1968 the U.S. war plan assigned 66 warheads to Subscribe
suppression of the A-35 system - that was, by the way, more than ten years email address
before the system became operational. They also estimated that in 1989 the Submit
United States allocated about 200 warheads to defeat the Moscow ABM. And,
of course, the United Kingdom and France argued that they needed hundreds
of warheads and sophisticated decoys if their ballistic missiles are to penetrate
Powered by
the defense around Moscow.
It is tempting to conclude that the extent of the overkill demonstrates the
relationship between offense and defense - that deployment of defenses only
prompts an overwhelming offensive response. There is some truth to that, of
course, but my guess is that the reality was a bit different - the United States
had so many warheads, there were not enough targets for them. Spending a
hundred or so warheads on suppressing missile defense seemed like a
reasonable thing to do and nobody particularly cared about the capability that
http://russianforces.org/blog/2012/10/very_modest_expectations_sovie.shtml[11/26/2015 2:38:08 PM]

defense was actually able to provide.
Anyway, here is the document. Itis titled "Memo on the actual situation in
connection with the U.S. claims regarding the Soviet Union's compliance with
obligations in the area of limitations of arms." (In the register of Katayev
papers , this seems to be the document "Information, 'The real situation
regarding US claims of compliance with the Soviet Union with commitment in
the area of reduction of armaments'" in the Box/Folder: 7:15.)
The memo is undated, but by all indicators it was prepared in the late 1985 -
most likely ahead of the first Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Geneva in
November 1985.
The image shows the section of the memo that describes the Soviet missile
defense programs that were underway in 1985. Here is the translation (the
words and numbers in italics have been written in by hand as it is normally
done in secret documents):
The work [on missile defense] has began in the mid-1960s. The TsNPO
Vympel of the MRP [Ministry of Radio Industry] has developed the A-35M
Moscow ABM system that has been on combat duty since 1979. The
system provides a capability to intercept a single ballistic missile from
some directions and up to 6 Pershing 2-type missiles from the FRG.
The work on a replacement system, an improved A-135 Moscow ABM

system, will be completed in 1987 to provide protection from a strike of
1-2 modern and prospective ICBMs and up to 35 Pershing 2-type
intermediate-range missiles. The A-135 system includes a new acquisition
and tracking radar, Don-2N (near Pushkino-Sofrino). In accordance with
the Decision of the Central Comittee and the Council of Ministers of 15
July 1985, the work has began on further modification of the Moscow
ABM system - the A-235 system (intercept of 8-12 complex ballistic
targets and up to 40 Pershing-2-type missiles).
The system will be presented for tests in 1995.
At the same time, development is under way of a short-range intercept

system S-550 for protection of single highly valuable objects (timeline -
1988) and of a 'Sambo' system for protection of ICBM silo launchers
(timeline - 1988).
On the next page, not shown here, the memo says:

All development is carried out in compliance with the ABM Treaty, with
the exception of the S-550 and 'Sambo' systems, whose deployment
would be inconsistent with the Treaty.
Most of the work on the A-135 system was completed in time, but the tests of
the system (or, rather, of its test prototype, known as Amur), conducted at the
Sary-Shagan from March to October 1987, showed that it needs some serious
work. The Ministry of Defense did not accepted the system for service and
returned it to the industry. The next series of tests was conducted in 1989 and
A-135 was accepted for "pilot joint operations" in 1990 ("joint" here means
that industry representatives were operating the system together with the
military). It did not begin combat duty until 1995.
The A-235 system was not an entirely new project - the work on system began
in 1975. The plan that was approved in 1978 assumed that A-235 will provide
defense of Moscow and "the Mosow industrial region" and will be followed by
an even larger system - A-1035 - that would extend protection of "key
administration and military centers". It appears that the A-235 project has
been revived recently. It is unlikely, though, that the design goals - protection
of the Moscow region and intercept of 1-2 missiles - have changed
significantly.
There is not much information about S-550 and Sambo. As far as I can tell, S-
550 was a terminal defense system with a traditional fast interceptor that
would protect key command and control facilities as well as Moscow. It was
probably based on the work that was done in the S-225 terminal missile
defense project, which was closed in 1984 - it appears that the missile was
transferred to the A-135 system (a discussion of that transfer on this blog).
The 5K17 radar of the system - known as Flat Twin in the U.S. - had been

moved to Kamchatka(it has been dismantled some time after 2005). The S-
550 project was still active around 1989, but by all indications the work had
stopped after 1991.
Sambo has been mentioned in a few documents as an "active defense of

missile silos and command facilities." It appears that it was based on the idea
of shooting a lot of metal rods at the incoming warhead causing it to detonate
prematurely. Something like that has been discussed in the United States as
well in the context of providing defense of MX silos.
The 1985 plan called for the Sambo system to be completed in 1987 and for
tests too begin in 1989. However, in 1986 this name disappeared from
documents and has never been mentioned again. Sambo was apparently
replaced by another "active" silo protection system - "Mozyr", although it is not
clear if Mozyr used metal rods as well or relied on some other mechanism (in
Katayev's notes from the early 1980s, Sambo is mentioned together with
another active system, "Aktiv", which was supposed to use explosives to
protect the silo). There is some information that the development of Mozyr
involved an intercept of a warhead in a flight test conducted in the late 1980s.
MilitaryRussia.ru has some interesting photos of what appears to be a Mozyr
test facility in Kamchatka.
Now that the Russian government believes it needs to spend some serious
money on modernization of its strategic forces, the Moscow ABM system is
clearly getting an overhaul. Russia conductsregular testsof short-range
interceptors of the system and appears to be working onnew versionof the
interceptor missile. The word is that a new missile will replace the long-range
interceptorsthat were removed from service some time around 2006.There
werereports about modernization of the Don-2N radar.Some ongoing
programs are hidden behind obscure names, like "Samolyot-M" (here is a very
interestingoverview of some of these programsprepared by Aleksandr
Stukalin).
I should note that although the system is known to rely on nuclear
interceptors, all the available evidence suggests that nuclear warheads are
removed from interceptor missiles are stored in a (presumably) safe location.
There have been reports about conventional intercept capability, but it is
unlikely that this can be achieved without a complete redesign of the system.
Moreover, the Russian designers and the military are extremely skeptical about
a possibility of building a reliable non-nuclear missile defense (in fact, they fully
expect that the United States will convert its system to nuclear interceptors at
some point having figured out thathit-to-kill doesn't quite work).
[Missile defense] [October 23, 2012] [#]
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References to this entry

A Russian newspaper, Izvestia, quotes an unnamed source in the Air and Space Defense
command as saying that Russia will begin tests of the A-235 Samolyot-M missile defense
system some time in 2013 and the new system is expected to...
[Moscow missile defense is getting an upgrade?] [December 14, 2012 10:08 AM] [#]
As part of the "Innovation Days of the Russian Ministry of Defense", the Makeyev Design
Bureau (formally known as the Academician V.P.Makeyev State Rocket Centre, GRTs)
presented one of its recent projects - a maneuvering re-entry vehicle (MARV). The l...
[MARV is back] [August 5, 2014 11:19 PM] [#]
Comments
Pavel,
Wasn't the Moscow ABM system designed for a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere that

would somehow destroy the target? It was not a kinetic hit-to-kill system, right? So the
existing interceptors probably do not have that capability. On the other hand, in the 1990s,
there was a decision to remove the nuclear component from them. Which raises the question:
what would the new, redesigned system be?
David Hoffman
[David E. Hoffman] [October 23, 2012] [#]
David: I very much doubt the system could do a conventional intercept. Definitely not hit-to-
kill. As I mentioned, it would require a quite thorough redesign of the system - not just
interceptors, but the radar and the software as well.
[Pavel Podvig ] [October 23, 2012] [#]
There was a tender issued this year for the demolition of the non-functioning sector of the
Dunay-3U radar. The documents say the the demolition is connected to (and needs to be co-
ordinated with) the installation of 14Ts031 on the same site - which seems to be missile
defence related.
What's that?
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?
q=cache:1Zb3s2IGYSAJ:doc2.gostorgi.ru/1/2012-07-
10/3778993/1.doc+&cd=47&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a
[SL ] [October 23, 2012] [#]
V-1000 (precursor to System A) was designed and successfully tested with directional blast
fragmentation. A-135 is nuclear only, but based on the 60's tests, conventional interceptors
are not outside of Soviet/Russian technical expertise.
There is zero evidence that current system is going to lose nuclear warheads.
[artjomh ] [October 23, 2012] [#]
SL: It looks like 14Ts031 is a radar that will support the new long-range interceptors. The
entire system appears to be known as 14Ts033.
[Pavel Podvig ] [October 24, 2012] [#]
The limitation A-135 system to intercept 1-2 modern and prospective ICBMs in background of
decoys etc i feel was more of limitation of 80's Signal Processing , Long Range Tracking of
Radar and Guidance of interceptor to its kill box using tradational Command Guidance
technique.
Now with the availability of COTS and exponential growth in Signal Processing , Energy
Effecient AESA T/R module ( over tradational power hungry PESA that needs a cooling system
of its own ) and independent guidance using IIR seeker or RF seeker the ability of A-235 or
some other system to intercept multiple ICBM type target involving tens of targets against
background of decoys/jammers is quite feseable.
What would be difficult to intercept is a RV that can change altitude and manouver in space
using microthrusters surrounded by decoys/jammers and in atmosphere using scramjet engine
that can power these RV and let them manouver in range and altitude without loosing much
speed would be tough for any present ABM system from US or Russian stable that uses
traditional means like radar to track and guide its target.
There is also this great potential of plasma generated by intense heat on this manouvering RV
blocking it being spotted by Radar systems from Ground.
All in All even if ABM systems can improve in many areas using modern technology it would
really require High Energy systems to take out such RV rather then tradational interceptors.
[Austin Joseph ] [October 24, 2012] [#]
Mozyr and Sambo systems were mentioned here:

http://www.mosoblonline.ru/upload/att/20100205165420.pdf
(see article on page 15)
[Alexander Stukalin] [October 25, 2012] [#]
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Current status - Russian strategic nuclear forces

Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Current status]

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(cc) Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces

http://russianforces.org/current/[11/26/2015 12:11:52 PM]

Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Early warning]

http://russianforces.org/sprn/[11/26/2015 12:13:17 PM]

The system includes the Don-2N battle-management phased-array radar,

The space surveillance network also includes the Krona system at

[February 11, 2015] [#]

(cc) Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces

http://russianforces.org/sprn/[11/26/2015 12:13:17 PM]

Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Blog] [How many warheads?]

How many warheads?

http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/05/how_many_warheads.shtml[11/26/2015 2:38:37 PM]

[Navy] [Nuclear complex] [Rocket Forces] [May 17, 2007] [#]

References to this entry

http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/05/how_many_warheads.shtml[11/26/2015 2:38:37 PM]

administration officials "told lawmakers that Russia had violated...

I can't understand this irrational oposition to MIRVing Topol-m.

PD: Remember Kosovo

2, 2.5 or 3 years - a difference in few months does not matter.

So Commander is right. ;-)

I will search for the article.

Interesting article from RIA Novosti posted May 22nd.

http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/05/how_many_warheads.shtml[11/26/2015 2:38:37 PM]

Agreed. Sounds like a sensible change in defense policy.

Now what's this RS-24 I've been reading about today?

That last segment should read...

http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/05/how_many_warheads.shtml[11/26/2015 2:38:37 PM]

[Vincent] [May 29, 2007] [#]

Here's two birds on the fly...

What yield Kataev's data give for a R-27 SLBM?

http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/05/how_many_warheads.shtml[11/26/2015 2:38:37 PM]

W76's weight-170 pounds with RV body.

W76 was not lighest US warhead.

http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/05/how_many_warheads.shtml[11/26/2015 2:38:37 PM]

Russian strategic nuclear forces

[Russian version] [Home] [Military space] [Navigation] [Glonass]

How many warheads?

32393 Cosmos-2434 2007-065A 721 2/13 [3] Submit

32394 Cosmos-2435 2007-065B 722 2/14 [3,4,6] [More about subscription]

http://russianforces.org/space/navigation/glonass.shtml[11/26/2015 12:14:25 PM]

36401 Cosmos-2461 2010-007B 735 3/24 [3]

2. December 26, 2004

3. December 25, 2005

5. October 26, 2007

6. December 25, 2007

7. September 25, 2008

8. December 25, 2008

10. March 1, 2010 (UTC)

11. September 2, 2010

12. December 5, 2010 (failure)

13. February 26, 2011

15. November 4, 2011

16. November 28, 2011