29.08.2014 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

or more years. Given multiple delays <strong>and</strong> the <strong>Russian</strong><br />

propensity to overestimate the ability to deliver new<br />

products, GLONASS will probably reach full functionality<br />

only in the second half of the coming decade.<br />

While <strong>Russian</strong> efforts to acquire long-range conventional<br />

capability seem to mirror what the United<br />

States has been doing for over 20 years, there is an<br />

important asymmetry that could complicate finding a<br />

common language. In contrast to Global Strike, which<br />

emphasizes strategic ranges because potential targets<br />

are located in southern Eurasia (Middle East, South<br />

Asia, etc.), Russia is developing a theater-level conventional<br />

capability. Ironically, American <strong>and</strong> <strong>Russian</strong><br />

targets, if not the same, at least overlap, but Russia<br />

is simply closer to these targets. Furthermore, assets<br />

the United States needs to strike in the areas of ongoing<br />

<strong>and</strong> potential conflicts could also be used against<br />

Russia, which will remain a source of unending concern<br />

for Moscow, whereas <strong>Russian</strong> theater-range assets<br />

will not be able to strike the United States. Thus,<br />

<strong>Russian</strong> military <strong>and</strong> civilian experts will continue to<br />

voice concern about Global Strike. This concern could<br />

be alleviated somewhat through a set of confidence<br />

building measures, but hardly removed completely,<br />

at least not in the foreseeable future.<br />

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE INF<br />

The 1987 INF Treaty has never been particularly<br />

liked by the <strong>Russian</strong> military. It is closely associated<br />

with major concessions on part of the Soviet Union,<br />

which had to eliminate many more missiles in that<br />

class than the United States. Characteristically, the security<br />

benefits the Soviet Union obtained from that deal<br />

(removal of American missiles with very short flight-<br />

244

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!