Russia’s Simulated Nuclear Strike Exercises Target NATO Tensions

A simulated nuclear attack to scare NATO. The Russian armed forces decided to conduct exercises simulating ‘tasks to carry out a major nuclear strike with strategic strike forces in response to an enemy nuclear attack’: this was stated in the speech of Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov to Vladimir Putin. The news was reported by the Interfax agency and it was stated that the exercises were ‘supervised’ by the Russian President. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that ‘strategic deterrence forces’ practiced launching ballistic and cruise missiles during exercises ‘conducted under the direction’ of the Russian president. According to the ministry – the Interfax agency reported – the intercontinental ballistic missile Yars was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome towards the Kura training range in Kamchatka, and the Sineva and Bulava ballistic missiles were launched from the strategic nuclear submarine Novomoskovsk in the Barents Sea. and the nuclear submarine Knyaz Oleg’ in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Long-range Tupolev Tu-95MS aircraft, which fired cruise missiles, were also used in the exercise. The Russian ministry claimed that ‘All missiles reached their targets’. The RS-24 ‘Yars’ (NATO codename SS-29) is a fifth-generation intercontinental ballistic missile, an updated version of the ‘Topol-M’ ballistic missile. Its design began in 2004 and the first flight test was completed on 29 May 2007 in response to the installation of NATO’s missile shield in Poland. The device is 2 meters in diameter, 22.5 meters long and weighs 49 tons. It uses the Glonass satellite guidance system, the same one used on the Topol-M missile (RS-12M2). MZKT-7922116×16 is transported by trucks. The missile has a range of approximately 10,500 kilometers and estimated firing accuracy should be around 250 meters ‘CEP’ (maximum margin of error), although some sources report between 150 and 200. Tupolev Tu-95 is Soviet made. Developed by Tupolev in the 1950s, the four-engine strategic bomber entered service with Soviet aviation in 1956 and is still in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in its Tu-95MS version. A direct descendant of the Tupolev Tu-4 it replaced, this vehicle stands out with its longevity. Designed to perform deterrence and nuclear strike missions, this vehicle is still used in this role as it is an integral part of the Russian Federation’s nuclear triad. Developed in numerous versions, the Tu-95 gave rise to its civilian counterpart, the Tu-114, the AWACS Tu-126, and the anti-submarine warfare aircraft Tu-142. As of 2021, the Tu-95 MSM version, equipped with new engines and capable of carrying long-range Kh-101/102 cruise missiles, is being supplied by the Russian armed forces. As the Tass website reads, Russia’s strategic deterrent forces are a component of Moscow’s Armed Forces designed to deter attacks against the country and its allies and ‘defeat the aggressor in battle’ using various types of weapons. nuclear weapons’. Strategic deterrence forces consist of offensive and defensive strategic forces. Strategic nuclear forces (nuclear triad) consist of the Strategic Missile Force, the maritime component (strategic maritime nuclear forces) and the air component (strategic airborne nuclear forces), represented by the Aerospace Forces. Russia began developing its nuclear triad in the 1950s. Its primary weapons currently include fixed and mobile land-based intercontinental ballistic missile systems, nuclear-powered strategic submarines, and strategic bombers carrying air-to-surface strategic cruise missiles and aerial bombs.