Russian Nuclear Weapons: Past, Present, and Future

the Air Force is reported to be receiving refurbished
versions of older systems, such as the MiG-29s and
31s, and Su-27 and 30 fighter, Tu-22 bomber, and Il-
76 transport. One report suggests that by 2020 the Air
Force will have upgraded some 1,500 aircraft, while
also introducing brand new platforms. 20
The Russian Navy is facing the end of the projected
service lives for virtually all of its deployed platforms.
What scarce resources have been made available since
the fall of the Soviet Union have gone largely to maintain
the ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Fleet. Even
this portion of the Fleet is on shaky ground, with the
Delta-class SSBNs fast becoming obsolete and the new
Boray class just entering service. Even then, repeated
test failures of the Bulova submarine launched ballistic
missile (SLBM) raise concerns that one leg of
the Russian strategic triad may be at risk. Elsewhere
in the Fleet, the number of surface combatants and
submarines continues to decline. There are programs
to build new submersible nuclear ships (SSNs); submersible,
guided missile, nuclear ships (SSGNs); longrange
hunter-killer submarines (SSKs); frigates; and
corvettes; but these are all progressing slowly. The
most significant reform step the Navy took was to
propose the creation of five or six carrier task groups
built around a new aircraft carrier, the first of which
will begin construction in 2012 or 2013. 21
The sheer magnitude of reforms must give any
reasonable observer pause. President Medvedev is
reported to have ordered the upgrading of an average
of 9-11 percent of the military’s weapons and
military equipment each year, resulting in an overall
modernization level of approximately 70 percent by
2020. According to one Russian source, this means annual
deliveries of 35 ballistic missiles, 50 new and 50
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