Russia
Background
Russia, as the central constituency of the Soviet Union, was
a strategic adversary of the United States until the end of the Cold War. Since
then more cooperative patterns of behavior have been established and the
independent Russia has to some degree accepted American influence in its former
spheres of influence.
Russia
currently has largest arsenal of both strategic and theatre nuclear weapons.
High maintenance costs and a relatively poor economy after the breakup of the
Soviet Union have raised international concerns about proliferation of these
weapons or technological knowhow since a large number of nuclear scientists
have gone unemployed since 1989.
Current Development
The cooperative pattern of behavior was disrupted with
President Bush’s decision to deploy interceptors in Poland and the radar in the
Czech Republic respectively. The plan was seen by the Kremlin as undermining
the strategic stability between the US and Russia and some Russian officials
went even so far to claim that Poland can become a target for Russian nuclear
strike. Russia is also committed to modernization of its strategic forces.
Capabilities
Russia has at least 5200
operational warheads and additional 8000 in reserve of which some are prepared
for dismantling. It has around 430 ICBMs with 1600 nuclear warheads. Russians has
also made significant progress in MIRV technologies and is expected to MIRV
some of their missiles. It has 48 silo-based missiles (type
Topol-M) and continues to deploy mobile
Topol-M systems. The country also
continues to modernize its SLBM submarines and strategic bombers.
Russia has
relatively significant missile defense capability. One functional missile
defense system is deployed around its capitol Moscow. This system is equipped
with 100 interceptors (SH-11
Gorgon and
SH-08
Gazelle).
Russia has developed radar
capability, although it leases some of its radars to other countries.
SA-10 missiles are capable to
intercept more targets at low and high altitudes.
Russia has 1900 of these missiles.
S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) system is counted to the missile defense and air
defense capabilities are currently counting for a totally of over 2064
missiles.