Non Strategic Nuclear Weapons - Federation of American Scientists

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Figure 17: SS-N-22 Loading Russian Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons An SS-N-22 is loaded onto a Dergach-class patrol boat at the Russian base at Sevastopol in Ukraine (the ship is at coordinates 44°37'24.61"N, 33°32'44.82"E). Image: Russian Ministry of Defense submarines, Kirov-class cruisers, Udaloy II-class destroyers, and Neustrashimyyclass frigates. The rocket can also be carried on Delta IV SSBNs. SS-N-16 Stallion (RPK-6/86R, Vodopad): Dual-capable anti-submarine rocket with 50-km range and 200-kt warhead for deployment on Akula, Oscar II, Sierra, Victor III class submarines. It might also be deliverable from Kirov-class cruisers, Udaloy II-class destroyers, Neustrashimyy-class frigates, and Delta IV SSBNs. Soviet warships once were equipped with several nuclear-capable surface-to-air missile systems. Most of these have been retired, with the possible exception of the SA-N-20 Gargoyle on the Kirov- and Slava-class cruisers. But even with this system there is considerable uncertainty as to whether it still has a nuclear option or if naval air-defense weapons have been denuclearized altogether. The navy occasionally exercises its non-strategic nuclear weapons. On April 23, 2010, as part of a V-Day Parade rehearsal, a Pacific surface group that included a destroyer (probably a Sovremenny class DDG) and two Tarantul class corvettes (probably Tarantul III) launched several supersonic cruise missiles (probably SS-N-22) against a target 70 km Federation of American Scientists www.FAS.org 60
Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons May 2012 away in the Sea of Japan. 142 Likewise, in July 2011, two Tarantul III class corvettes from Vladivostok Naval Base conducted an exercise that involved launching SS-N-22 missiles. 143 Many of the navy’s non-strategic weapon systems are old and probably approaching retirement. With conventional weapons becoming more capable it is likely that new warships will enter service with fewer nuclear weapon systems. The ones that are left might be modified. Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev, deputy head of the Navy General Staff, told RIA Novosti in 2009 that, “Probably, tactical nuclear weapons [on submarines] will play a key role in the future…Their range and precision are gradually increasing.” He concluded that, “There is no longer any need to equip missiles with powerful nuclear warheads. We can install low-yield warheads on existing cruise missiles.” 144 This statement caused some to speculate that Russia was about to develop a whole new class of low-yield naval non-strategic nuclear weapons, but there is no indication of that yet. Similarly, a statement made in September 2006 by then Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, that Russia at that time had eight submarines at sea (including five strategic and three multipurpose submarines) ready to launch nuclear weapons, caused some to speculate that Russia was still deploying non-strategic nuclear weapons at sea in peacetime. But Mr. Ivanov appears to have been referring to the ability of the strategic submarines to launch, as all non-strategic nuclear weapons are in storage on land. Defense Weapons Under the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives, the air-defense forces were slated to be reduced by 50 percent, but appear to have been cut by 60 percent. Non-governmental experts estimated 4,000 air-defense warheads in 1988, 145 and perhaps 3,000 remaining in 1991. 146 Many of those warheads were for the SA-5 Gammon, which has since been retired. It is estimated that approximately 400 warheads are assigned to defensive forces, with more in queue for dismantlement. Non-strategic warheads for defensive forces fall into three categories: missile defense, air-defense and coastal defense. The missile and air-defense weapons are often referred to as strategic defense weapons, but since they are not offensive strategic nuclear forces and Russia has included anti-aircraft weapons in declarations about the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives, they are included here as non-strategic nuclear forces. 142 Zvezda Television, April 23, 2010, 18:05 GMT; U.S. Open Source Center, “Russian TV military reports: Navy missile launches, V-Day parade rehearsal,” NewsEdge Document Number 201004241477.1_947400ac5b657830, April 23, 2010. 143 Moscow Rossiya 24, July 19, 2011, 7:45 GMT; U.S. Open Source Center, “TV shows navy missile launch in Russia’s Far East,” NewsEdge Document Number 201107191477.1_558d0023b959e145, July 19, 2011. 144 “Russia should focus on tactical nuclear weapons for subs,” RIA Novosti, March 23, 2003, http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090323/120688454.html 145 Thomas B. Cochran, et al., Nuclear Weapons Databook Volume IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons (Harper & Row, 1989), p. 32. 146 Alexei Arbatov, “Deep Cuts and De-Alerting: A Russian Perspective,” in Harold A. Feiveson (ed.), The Nuclear Turning Point (Brookings Institution Press, 1999), p. 319. 61 Federation of American Scientists www.FAS.org
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Non Strategic Nuclear Weapons - Federation of American Scientists

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