Non Strategic Nuclear Weapons - Federation of American Scientists

Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons May 2012
S-300 air-defense system probably had nuclear capability, 148 and Jane’s credits both the S-
300 (SA-10/20) and 300V (SA-12) systems with nuclear capability. 149 It is assumed that
about a third of the S-300 systems have a secondary nuclear capability.
The S-300 launchers are deployed along Russia’s periphery, near high-value bases and
factories, or around major cities. Moscow is surrounded by nearly 30 sites, each with eight
launchers, each with four missiles, and several reloads in storage. The S-300 is starting to
be replaced by the S-400. Whether its more capable SA-21 interceptor will also have nuclear
capability or result in the air-defense forces being denuclearized remains to be seen.
Russia also deploys the SSC-1b Sepal (Redut) costal defense missile, which has a secondary
nuclear capability. The weapon is deployed in the Baltic Sea Fleet and Pacific
Fleet areas and is capable of delivering a 350-kt warhead to a range of 500 km. The number
of SSC-1B defense warheads was estimated at 100 in 1988, 150 and there are probably
less than half left today.
Figure 19: Possible SS-26 Launchers Near Luga Base
The 26 th Missile Brigade at Luga in western Russia is upgrading from the SS-21 Scarab (Tochka) missile to the
SS-26 Stone (Iskander). This satellite image from 2010 shows what might be a shipment of launchers at a
nearby rail station. The SS-21 is nuclear-capable and the SS-26 might be too although it is uncertain at this
point. Image: May 12, 2010 (GeoEye via GoogleEarth)
148 For U.S. assessments, see for example: U.S. Director of Central Intelligence, Air Defense of the USSR, December 1985,
p. 10.
149 “Offensive Weapons: Russian Federation,” Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems, August 24, 2011, pp. 174-192 of print version.
150 Thomas B. Cochran, et al., Nuclear Weapons Databook Volume IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons (Harper & Row, 1989), p. 37.
63 Federation of American Scientists www.FAS.org