August 4, 2005 :: Interfax :: News
Colonel General Nikolai Solovtsov, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN), has laid out the military’s view of the overall role of the Missile Forces.
According to the Russian Interfax news agency, Solovtsov emphasized the Missile Forces’ purpose as a strategic deterrent, and the military’s confidence that they serve this role. The Missile Forces rely upon “an adaptive principle” of modernization, upgrading combat equipment, and building new and cutting-edge missile systems, which will continue to consist of both “stationary missile systems, or silos, boasting a high combat preparedness for immediate action, and highly-survivable mobile systems.”
Russia has lately been advertising its dismantling of certain rail-mobile systems, but Solovtsov’s statement confirms that mobile systems will yet be retained. Due to the expiration of the service life of its last rail-mobile ballistic missile system, it is being removed from combat duty in August: “however sorry we might feel about it, we have to say goodbye to the rail-mobile missile system.”
Solovtsov also emphasized that although Russia is decreasing the number of its operational nuclear warheads, its reductions do not compromise the potency fo Russia’s nuclear force: “At the same time, I would like to emphasize that Russia doesn’t need to compete with anyone in increasing the number of missiles and warheads. We have an adequate nuclear potential to defend our own country and our allies.”
Solovtsov also commented upon the progress of Topol-M missiles’ deployment: “Four regiments of the Tatishchevo missile unit have been rearmed with silo-based Topol-M systems. The modernization of another regiment is continuing now to put it into combat duty in 2005.” The deployment of mobile Topol-M’s is to begin in 2006, he added, and “Nearly all objectives set for flight tests of the system have been reached.”
Solovtsov repeated the frequent claim by Russian leaders that the Topol-M systems do not have any foreign analogues, and are specifically designed to overcome ballistic missile defenses:
“Compared to its predecessor, the Topol, the new system’s combat and operational specifications have been greatly improved,” Solovtsov said.
In particular, the system’s combat elements have been adjusted to anti-missile defense conditions and its mobility and stealth capabilities have been improved, as well, he said.
As for the RS-20/SS-18 “Voyevoda” or “Satan” heavy intercontinental ballistic missiles which have been undergoing upgrades to extend their service lives, he said they may be kept in service for another 10-15 years, some two and a half times their initially planned service life.
As for the RS-18/SS-19 system, Solovtsov said it “has operated safely for 25 years…Their service life will expire in the 2020s - 2030s.”
Solovtsov elaborated on the Topol SS-24 rail-mobile missiles, saying that: “Five rail-based missile launchers have been scrapped in Bryansk this year and four others are to be scrapped before the end of the year. Nine Topol missile launchers have been destroyed in Pibanshur and 18 others will have been destroyed by the end of the year.”
The destruction of rail-mobile missile systems in Bryansk and of Topol missile systems in Pibanshur in Udmurtia has been proceeding under control by U.S. inspectors, Solovtsov said. …Solovtsov also announced that RS-18 [SS-19] and RS-20 [SS-18] silo-based, liquid-fueled missiles are being scrapped without U.S. inspectors’ supervision.
(Article)
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