- Sputnik International
Russia
The latest news and stories from Russia. Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on defense, politics, economy and more.

Russia to reform strategic nuclear triad by 2016 - top general

Subscribe
MOSCOW, July 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's armed forces will be completely equipped with new strategic nuclear weapons systems by 2016, Chief of the General Staff Yury Baluyevsky said Friday.

"We cannot have the strategic nuclear contingent by 2016 that we have today," Baluyevsky said at a meeting of the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma.

As of January 2006, Russia's Strategic Missile Forces deployed 512 land-based missile systems of four different types equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles that can carry 1,808 warheads. The country also deploys various outdated sea- and air-based nuclear missile systems.

But according to a new doctrine for the development of the armed forces, by 2016 Russia will completely modernize the naval component of the nuclear triad by deploying new Bulava ballistic missiles on Project 955 Borey-class nuclear-powered submarines and equipping land-based strategic missile units with silo-based and mobile Topol-M (SS-27) ballistic missiles.

President Vladimir Putin said in his state of the nation address on May 10 that Russia would commission two new strategic nuclear submarines in 2006.

"Russia has not built such submarines since 1990," Putin said. "They will be armed with Bulava nuclear missiles, which together with Topol-Ms will form the base for the strategic defense forces."

Russia currently has five missile regiments equipped with silo-based Topol-M missiles, and the first regiment equipped with mobile Topol-M systems will be put on combat duty in 2006.

Russia is also planning to modernize the air component of the nuclear triad by modernizing its fleet of strategic bombers.

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on July 5 that Russia's Air Force had commissioned a modernized Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber and could receive a new Tu-160 bomber by the end of the year.

He said the modernized bomber showed Russia's increased defense capabilities and the new weaponry and avionics installed on the aircraft allowed the country to look to the future with confidence and in security.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала