The Wall Street Journal: Russia Plans to Deploy New Nuclear Missiles
Posted: 23 Feb 2023, 22:56
Russia Plans to Deploy New Nuclear Missiles
Story by Ann M. Simmons • 8h ago
MOSCOW—Russian President Vladimir Putin said he plans to deploy Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, as part of an effort to modernize the country’s nuclear forces.
Russia Plans to Deploy New Nuclear Missiles
Russia Plans to Deploy New Nuclear Missiles
© Valery Sharifulin/Zuma Press
The announcement, aimed in part at showcasing Russia’s nuclear arsenal, came two days after Mr. Putin said that Russia will pull back from the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with the U.S. It comes on the eve of the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has exposed serious shortcomings of capabilities of the Russian military, which has struggled to advance on the battlefield in Ukraine in recent months.
“As before, we will pay increased attention to strengthening the nuclear triad,” Mr. Putin said in an address marking a national holiday in Russia that honors the country’s armed forces. Russia’s nuclear arsenal includes air, land and sea delivery systems.
Mr. Putin touted the Sarmat in 2018, boasting that it could reach any point on the globe. But earlier this week, Russia conducted a test launch of the Sarmat ICBM. The test, which was carried out at its Plesetsk launch site, nearly 500 miles north of Moscow, was a failure, according to U.S. officials.
The Kremlin didn’t comment on the outcome of the test, directing requests for comment to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, which also didn’t respond.
In addition to the Sarmat, Mr. Putin said full production of the Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic systems would continue. The Kinzhal can accelerate to 10 times the speed of sound and strike targets at a range of over 1,200 miles and can be outfitted with both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing around 1,100 pounds, Russia’s state media TASS reported Thursday.
Russia will also begin mass deployment of Zircon sea-launched hypersonic missiles, said Mr. Putin, and will commission the Borei-A nuclear-powered submarine, Emperor Alexander III, into the Russian navy. As a result of these moves, “the share of modern weapons and equipment in the naval strategic nuclear forces will reach 100%,” Mr. Putin said.
Under Mr. Putin, the Russian military underwent a large-scale effort to modernize its capabilities following the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, the conflict in Ukraine has exposed continued problems, such as antiquated or defective equipment and a troubled command structure.
Related video: Russia's hypersonic-missile ship in SA for war games (Reuters)
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Current Time 0:02
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Duration 1:26
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Russia's hypersonic-missile ship in SA for war games
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In his Thursday speech, Mr. Putin promised to ensure that Russia’s military remained equipped with new strike systems, reconnaissance and communications equipment.
Kremlin watchers said Mr. Putin’s more aggressive military posturing, including suspension of participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, New Start, was intended as a warning to the West. The U.S. and its allies have provided massive military support to Ukraine.
The New Start treaty provided the arms-control framework, limiting the number of strategic nuclear warheads deployed by the U.S. and Russia to 1,550, since it took effect in 2011.
At the same time, Russian officials made clear that Moscow wasn’t walking away from strategic arms control. After Mr. Putin announced the suspension, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Russia will continue to “strictly comply with the quantitative restrictions on strategic offensive arms” throughout the life of the treaty, which lasts until 2026.
That statement also said that Russia will continue to provide notifications of its ballistic missile launches on the basis of an agreement reached in 1988. The Russians notified this week’s test launch of the Sarmat in advance in accordance with the New Start treaty and a parallel 1988 accord. These commitments mean that Moscow is taking steps to preserve the core provisions of New Start and to provide strategic predictability.
It remains to be seen if Russia will continue to exchange data on strategic forces and provide other notifications.
The U.S. military is undertaking a costly strategic modernization and will field a new bomber, a new ICBM and a new sea-based nuclear force. That means that the Kremlin has an incentive to maintain reciprocal limits on both sides’ arsenal, current and former U.S. officials said.
The Russian leader’s public holiday message was also aimed at underscoring the country’s military strength to the domestic audience as the war heads into its second year, analysts said.
Although polls in Russia show that the majority of Russians support the Kremlin’s military campaign, there is anxiety over how long the war will last. Showing Russians that their military has the resources it needs to fight and win is a critical part of the Kremlin’s messaging, the analysts said.
“A modern and efficient army and navy are a guarantee of the country’s security and sovereignty, and a guarantee of its stable development and its future,” Mr. Putin said.
Write to Ann M. Simmons at [email protected]
Story by Ann M. Simmons • 8h ago
MOSCOW—Russian President Vladimir Putin said he plans to deploy Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, as part of an effort to modernize the country’s nuclear forces.
Russia Plans to Deploy New Nuclear Missiles
Russia Plans to Deploy New Nuclear Missiles
© Valery Sharifulin/Zuma Press
The announcement, aimed in part at showcasing Russia’s nuclear arsenal, came two days after Mr. Putin said that Russia will pull back from the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with the U.S. It comes on the eve of the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has exposed serious shortcomings of capabilities of the Russian military, which has struggled to advance on the battlefield in Ukraine in recent months.
“As before, we will pay increased attention to strengthening the nuclear triad,” Mr. Putin said in an address marking a national holiday in Russia that honors the country’s armed forces. Russia’s nuclear arsenal includes air, land and sea delivery systems.
Mr. Putin touted the Sarmat in 2018, boasting that it could reach any point on the globe. But earlier this week, Russia conducted a test launch of the Sarmat ICBM. The test, which was carried out at its Plesetsk launch site, nearly 500 miles north of Moscow, was a failure, according to U.S. officials.
The Kremlin didn’t comment on the outcome of the test, directing requests for comment to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, which also didn’t respond.
In addition to the Sarmat, Mr. Putin said full production of the Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic systems would continue. The Kinzhal can accelerate to 10 times the speed of sound and strike targets at a range of over 1,200 miles and can be outfitted with both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing around 1,100 pounds, Russia’s state media TASS reported Thursday.
Russia will also begin mass deployment of Zircon sea-launched hypersonic missiles, said Mr. Putin, and will commission the Borei-A nuclear-powered submarine, Emperor Alexander III, into the Russian navy. As a result of these moves, “the share of modern weapons and equipment in the naval strategic nuclear forces will reach 100%,” Mr. Putin said.
Under Mr. Putin, the Russian military underwent a large-scale effort to modernize its capabilities following the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, the conflict in Ukraine has exposed continued problems, such as antiquated or defective equipment and a troubled command structure.
Related video: Russia's hypersonic-missile ship in SA for war games (Reuters)
This is Russia's flagship frigate, equipped with new generation
Current Time 0:02
/
Duration 1:26
Reuters
Russia's hypersonic-missile ship in SA for war games
0
View on Watch
In his Thursday speech, Mr. Putin promised to ensure that Russia’s military remained equipped with new strike systems, reconnaissance and communications equipment.
Kremlin watchers said Mr. Putin’s more aggressive military posturing, including suspension of participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, New Start, was intended as a warning to the West. The U.S. and its allies have provided massive military support to Ukraine.
The New Start treaty provided the arms-control framework, limiting the number of strategic nuclear warheads deployed by the U.S. and Russia to 1,550, since it took effect in 2011.
At the same time, Russian officials made clear that Moscow wasn’t walking away from strategic arms control. After Mr. Putin announced the suspension, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Russia will continue to “strictly comply with the quantitative restrictions on strategic offensive arms” throughout the life of the treaty, which lasts until 2026.
That statement also said that Russia will continue to provide notifications of its ballistic missile launches on the basis of an agreement reached in 1988. The Russians notified this week’s test launch of the Sarmat in advance in accordance with the New Start treaty and a parallel 1988 accord. These commitments mean that Moscow is taking steps to preserve the core provisions of New Start and to provide strategic predictability.
It remains to be seen if Russia will continue to exchange data on strategic forces and provide other notifications.
The U.S. military is undertaking a costly strategic modernization and will field a new bomber, a new ICBM and a new sea-based nuclear force. That means that the Kremlin has an incentive to maintain reciprocal limits on both sides’ arsenal, current and former U.S. officials said.
The Russian leader’s public holiday message was also aimed at underscoring the country’s military strength to the domestic audience as the war heads into its second year, analysts said.
Although polls in Russia show that the majority of Russians support the Kremlin’s military campaign, there is anxiety over how long the war will last. Showing Russians that their military has the resources it needs to fight and win is a critical part of the Kremlin’s messaging, the analysts said.
“A modern and efficient army and navy are a guarantee of the country’s security and sovereignty, and a guarantee of its stable development and its future,” Mr. Putin said.
Write to Ann M. Simmons at [email protected]