Russian Nuclear Weapons: Past, Present, and Future - Strategic ...

The situation in the armed forces today has changed
dramatically. We have created a modern structure
for the armed forces and the different units are now
receiving modern, new arms and equipment, arms
and equipment that will form the basis of our defense
through to 2020. . . . Naval shipbuilding has got underway
again and we are now building new vessels
of practically all types. The Russian Navy will soon
commission two new nuclear submarines carrying
strategic weapons. They will be equipped with the
new “Bulava” missile system, which together with
the “Topol-M” system will form the backbone of our
strategic deterrent force. I emphasize that these are the
first nuclear submarines to be completed in modern
Russia. We had not built a single vessel of this type
since 1990. 44
In effect, it was under Vladimir Putin that the Russian
missile-nuclear potential became the symbol of
Russia’s survival as a nation-state and the absolute
guarantee of its security. In the Russian President’s
words, “When looking at today’s international situation
and the prospects for its development, Russia is
compelled to realize that nuclear deterrence is a key
element in guaranteeing the country’s security.” 45
During his presidency, he consistently alluded
to the Russian nuclear potential as the foundation of
Russia’s special role in geopolitics. Above all, in the
eyes of the Russian leadership, a robust nuclear potential
created preconditions for “strategic parity” with
the United States. The Russian logic was simple:
Russia and the United States are the biggest nuclear
powers. Our economy might be smaller, but Russia’s
nuclear potential is still comparable to that of the United
States… Also important is that we have the years of
experience, the technology and the production potential,
the technological chains and the specialists. Rus-
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