Russia Renews 95% of Its Nuclear Triad
A Russian submarine. X/ @WRSN101
December 18, 2024 Hour: 7:59 am
The triad consist of intercontinental missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, and strategic aviation.
On Wednesday, the Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, announced that his country is strengthening its defensive capabilities by modernizing 95% of its nuclear triad.
RELATED:
Russia Arrests the Perpetrator of the Attack That Killed Gen. Kirillov
“Under the current circumstances, the Defense Ministry continues to work systematically to enhance the country’s defensive potential. As of today, 95% of the weaponry of the Strategic Nuclear Forces has been modernized,” he stated while presenting a report to the senior leadership of the Armed Forces.
Russia’s Strategic Nuclear Forces, also known as the nuclear triad, consist of intercontinental missiles capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, nuclear-powered submarines, and strategic aviation.
“The nuclear triad is the foundation of our country’s security,” Gerasimov added, highlighting that throughout 2024, the Armed Forces have improved the readiness levels of their troops as well as methods for controlling forces and weaponry.
Specifically, he noted that the land-based nuclear forces, which include intercontinental missiles, have completed the rearmament process with modern mobile missile systems. “The modernization of stationary missile groups with the Yars strategic missile systems is ongoing,” Gerasimov stated.
Regarding the naval component, he reported that Russia is completing state trials of the new Borei-A class strategic nuclear submarine Knyaz Pozharsky and expects the delivery of two additional submarines of this type to join the Navy by 2028.
The third component of the nuclear triad, strategic aviation, received its first upgraded Tu-190M strategic bombers this year. Russia is also continuing to modernize its Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers by equipping them with more powerful engines, new control and navigation systems, and an expanded range of weapons.
In November, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the new nuclear doctrine, which allows for nuclear responses to conventional attacks that threaten the sovereignty of Russia and Belarus. This doctrine also considers an “aggregate attack” to include aggression by a non-nuclear country supported—whether directly involved or not—by a nuclear power.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
