Russia's Nuclear Weapons: Doctrine, Forces, and Modernization

Abstract

Russias nuclear forces consist of both long-range, strategic systems - including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers - and shorter- and medium-range delivery systems. Russia is modernizing its nuclear forces, replacing Soviet-era systems with new missiles, submarines and aircraft while developing new types of delivery systems. Although Russia's number of nuclear weapons has declined sharply since the end of Cold War, it retains a stockpile of thousands of warheads, with more than 1,500 warheads deployed on missiles and bombers capable of reaching U.S. territory.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 13, 2021
Accession Number
AD1150070

Entities

People

  • Amy F. Woolf

Organizations

  • Congressional Research Service

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Counter WMD
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Facilities
  • Anti-Ballistic Missiles
  • Arms Control
  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Ballistic Missile Submarines
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Boost Glide Vehicles
  • Congress
  • Defense Systems
  • Department Of State
  • Hypersonic Glide Vehicles
  • Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
  • National Security
  • Negotiations
  • Rockets
  • Strategic Weapons
  • Treaties
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Strategic Security Studies