While ballistic missile developments in Iran, North Korea, India and China are capturing the headlines, strategic forces of the world’s two superpowers undergoing profound changes and modernization. This article highlights new developments in the Russian Strategic Missile Force (RVSN), a follow-on article will overview the evolution of the US missile defense capabilities and the status of their strategic forces, under the New START treaty. For consistency, this article will refer to all missiles by their NATO designations, and, where such designation is unavailable – by the Russian designation. [nonmember]The article appearing on this page is an excerpt of the full version, available exclusively to Defense-Update subscribers.
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According to the biennial report stating the aggregate numbers of “strategic offensive arms” under the New START treaty, the US has the largest arsenal of nuclear warheads, with 1,688 deployed weapons, compared to the Russian arsenal of 1,400 deployed warheads. The US also has largest fleet of nuclear carrying platforms – 809, compared to 473 deployed by the Russians.
But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. While the US is maintaining and steadily reducing its inventory, to meet the treaty’s limits, the Russians strive to improve their arsenal with more capable weapons. According to open sources, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces currently operates at least 58 silo-based SS-18 Satan ballistic missiles, 160 road-mobile Topol (SS-25) missile systems, 50 silo-based and 18 road-mobile Topol-M (SS-27) systems, and 18 SS-29 Yars systems. At sea the Russians maintain eight Delta III/IV nuclear ballistic missile submarines remaining in service.
[ismember]New units are standing up with modern equipment, bringing the Russian strategic missile force toward the 500 threshold set by the treaty. The main improvement was the shift to solid rocket propulsion, introduced with the SS-25 ‘Sickel’. This propulsion method enables the use of land mobile launch systems, further improving the weapon’s survivability. Moreover, solid propelled missiles can be maintained in a higher state of readiness, as they do not require lengthy pre-launch refueling.[/ismember]
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By 2020, the RVSN is expected to convert all SS-25 and SS-19 missile units to the SS-27 and SS-29, fielding eight divisions with a total inventory of over 170 mobile and silo-based SS-27 and 108 SS-29 silo-based missiles. [ismember]Two missile divisions have already been fully equipped with the missile. The Tatishchevo RVSN Division, near the city of Saratov in southwestern Russia, now has 60 SS-27 missile systems. The 54th Guards Rocket Division in Teykovo currently operates 18 SS-29 missiles. The rearmament of three additional divisions is ongoing since 2013, with solid-propelled SS-29 Yars systems replacing the older SS-19s.[/ismember] The deployment of follow-on ICBM, the Yars-M and R-26 Rubezh, was expected in 2013, but hasn’t officially announced yet. (Read about the new missile: “New ICBM Under Development in Russia“)
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[ismember]As part of this decommissioning process the Russians are dismantling operational silos, launch control centers and training facilities designed for the liquid-propelled SS-19s. The new silos built to operate the solid-fuelled missiles require different complex and support equipment and will rely on brand new targeting, command and control structure.
The dismantling work is already underway by the Russian company Rosobshemash, operating under a contract awarded by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Under this US$46 million contract announced in April 2012 the Russian company will “eliminate” 161 missile launch silos, launch control centers and training silos until 2017. These facilities remain in various operational states with the SS-18 ICBM regiments at based in Dombarovskiy and Uzhur; and the SS-19 ICBM regiments at based in Kozel’sk and Tatishchevo. [/ismember]Resulting from this plan, all liquid-propelled silo-based SS-19 Stiletto missiles will be decommissioned by 2017, leaving only 30 SS-18 (out of the current 58). (More on the new LP mega missiles: “Return of the Russian Missile Trains“)
[ismember]In addition to the fielding of modern missiles the RVSN will soon deploy an automated battle management system (ASBU), which will allow rapid retargeting of ICBMs. The system will rely on a ‘third-generation’ command-and-control system that will improve the launch and targeting procedures for the current ballistic missiles. The project, dubbed Vozzvaniye (Proclamation), will allow rapid retargeting of missiles in real-time, even after launch. The new system would be compatible with existing Topol-M and Yars ballistic missiles, as well as with the aforementioned future heavy liquid-fuel ICBM.[/ismember]
Besides the missile force, the Russian strategic triad comprises submarine-launched missiles and strategic bombers, delivering air-launched nuclear weapons. The principal nuclear armed weapon to equip those platforms is the Kh55 cruise missile, and its latest variant – Kh-102 that has entered service in the 2000s. The Tu-95MS can carry eight such missiles, and the Tu-160 carries 12 on two rotary launchers. These bombers will eventually be replaced by the future bomber known as ‘PAK-DA’, under development by the Tupolev design bureau, that has won the development tender offering a subsonic, stealthy “flying wing” design. (Read more in the article: “Russian Air Force to Field a Stealth Bomber By 2020“)
The third part of the triad is a fleet of ballistic missile submarine force, carrying the SS-N-23 Submarine Launched ballistic Missile. This weapon has entered service in 2007 and is currently operational with three delta III and four Delta IV submarines in service with the Russian Navy. An improved version of this weapon is the R-29RMU2 Layner, introducing improved countermeasures, improving its capability to penetrate enemy missile defenses. Development of the new missile was completed in 2012. The solid-propelled RSM-56 Bulava has yet to become operational, after repeated failures in flight testing. (Read more on these missiles: “Russian SSBN Fleet to Receive Improved R-29 Missiles“)
A comprehensive review of the RVSN is available on Ausairpower.net.
Comparison of Current Russian Strategic ICBM
