The age of nuclear weapons began with a tragic event in the last days of World War II, when the US Air Force tested the first atomic bomb in combat, dropping two charges on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. From then until the very end of the Cold War, there was a crazy race between the USSR and the United States in terms of the quantity and quality of weapons of mass destruction. The nuclear forces of both powers began to be limited only after initiatives to reduce strategic offensive weapons. However, even now the existing arsenal of warheads and carriers will be enough for the mutual destruction of both sides, more than once.
Closed club
Nuclear forces are generally referred to as a complex of strategic and tactical weapons at the disposal of a certain state. America and Russia have concentrated at their disposal the lion's share of this terrible variety of weapons of mass destruction. However, there are a number of countries that also have in their arsenal the means"last argument".
The nuclear forces of the world are concentrated in the countries of a kind of club. The basis is made up of "great powers" - permanent members of the UN Security Council, which includes China, the USA, Russia, France, Great Britain. It was these states that initiated the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons), which is designed to block access to this club for other states.
However, not all countries agreed with such a restriction of their rights and did not ratify the agreement, despite pressure from the great powers and the UN. The young members of the club include India, Pakistan, North Korea. According to unofficial information, Israel has an impressive arsenal, which has at its disposal from 80 to 100 active warheads.
Before the collapse of the apartheid system, South Africa had its own nuclear forces, but the government of the republic prudently decided to dismantle the existing weapons before the start of changes. Nelson Mandela became president of a country already free of weapons of mass destruction.
Russian nuclear triad
The strategic nuclear forces of Russia are generally referred to as the totality of all carriers and nuclear warheads under the jurisdiction of the country's Armed Forces. The entire complex of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons is distributed among three elements: water, earth and air, that is, ground forces, naval forces and aerospace forces. Accordingly, the strategic nuclear forces of Russia are sometimes simply called the nuclear triad.
According to open information from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the entire triadincludes 527 nuclear weapons carriers, which consist of intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers. This entire armada carries 1,444 active nuclear warheads.
The number of carriers and active warheads is limited by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which was signed between the US and Russia so as not to undermine each other's forces in an exhausting race in the number and quality of missiles. To date, the third such treaty is in force - START-III.
After the collapse of the USSR, Russia took over the care of the nuclear arsenal, which was located on the territory of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus. In exchange for renouncing the status of nuclear powers, these states were given guarantees of international security by the big players in world politics.
Strategic Missile Forces
Russia has traditionally been considered a continental power with not the strongest maritime traditions, so it is not surprising that the cornerstone of the triad is the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN), the land component of Russia's strategic nuclear forces.
They include ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), which are based in silos (mine launchers) and PGRKs (mobile ground complexes). Silos are more protected from destruction, only such an ICBM can be destroyed, otherwise it will take several.
Besides, theydispersed far from each other, which makes the process of neutralizing them especially troublesome. On the other hand, the weak link of the silos is the fact that their coordinates are most likely known to the most likely enemy.
PGRK are not as protected as silos, but their mobility makes any information about the current deployment meaningless. Mobile complexes are capable of changing their location in a matter of hours and avoiding destruction by the enemy. It is the PGRKs that are the basis of the modern nuclear forces of the Russian Federation. The most modern representatives of this family are the complexes RS-12M2 Topol-M and RS-24 Yars.
They are close to each other, but the fundamental difference is the combat filling of missiles. "Topol" has at its disposal a classic monolithic warhead with a capacity of 550 kT. Yars has a more complex system, it has a separate warhead with three or four blocks of 150-300 kT each.
Naval component of the nuclear triad
Russian nuclear forces are not limited to the formidable Topols and Yars. The security of the country is also called upon to ensure nuclear submarines equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles. To date, the naval component of the nuclear triad has 13 SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines). Of these, 11 are in full readiness and are on combat watch.
The main burden of ensuring the strategic security of Russia is borne by five Dolphin-class submarines, each ofwhich is equipped with sixteen launchers. All these sixteen installations are ready to launch Sineva-class ballistic missiles at any moment.
A more outdated version of the SSBNs are the Kalmar project missile carriers, of which three copies remain in service. One of them was recently repaired and upgraded and returned to service. Kalmars are also equipped with sixteen launchers and armed with R-29R ICBMs.
Obsolete SSBNs are designed to replace Borey-class submarines equipped with R-30 Bulava missiles. Three missile carriers are on combat duty. The naval component of Russia's nuclear forces is considered the most vulnerable link in the triad, according to many experts, yielding to American counterparts.
Russian nuclear submarines with intercontinental ballistic missiles are part of the Northern and Pacific fleets of the Navy and are based at five naval bases.
Threat from the sky
Russia's nuclear forces cannot be imagined without strategic bombers capable of reaching any point on Earth in a matter of hours. The Aerospace Forces are armed with about 100 aircraft, 55 of which are in service. Together they are capable of carrying up to 798 cruise missiles.
The TU-195 class bombers form the basis of the air nuclear fleet. In total, there are 84 staff units, 39 of which are on duty. There are not so many more advanced TU-160 bombers so far, while 16 aircraft are at the disposal of the VKS.
Long range bombersmake their sorties from three air bases, the location of which makes no sense to voice.
American counterweight
US military doctrine provides for the use of nuclear weapons if the United States or its allies are subjected to a nuclear strike. At the same time, a significant reservation is allowed in relation to countries that possess such weapons or have not signed the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons). In relation to the above states, the "nuclear baton" can also be used if they use other weapons of mass destruction or endanger the vital interests of the United States, as well as its allies.
US nuclear forces include the Strategic Offensive Force as well as non-strategic nuclear weapons. Of greatest interest are the SNS, which include a complex of land, naval and air forces. According to official data, today the US nuclear forces have 1,367 warheads, which are deployed on 681 carriers. In total, carriers of formidable weapons, including those under repair or in warehouses - 848.
Despite the fact that in the structure of the US strategic nuclear forces there is a clear preponderance towards the Navy and the Air Force, the state plans to continue to adhere to the "triad" policy in order to ensure stability and mutual insurance of all components.
Ground component
The land component of the US nuclear triad is the weakest and most undeveloped compared to the capabilities of the Navy and Air Force. As an Atlantic power, the United States focuses onimprovement of submarines and strategic bombers capable of taking off from the decks of powerful aircraft carriers. However, intercontinental ballistic missiles based in silo launchers can also have their say.
Today, the only type of ICBM, the Minuteman III, is in service. They entered service in the middle of the last century and became a revolutionary breakthrough of their time, as they were the first to use separate warheads with individual control. However, later these warheads with a total yield of 350 kT were removed from the missiles, and more primitive monoblocks of 300 kT were installed instead.
Officially, this was explained by the declaration of the defensive purpose of their ICBMs by the United States, but the real reason, most likely, was that by binding itself to the START III treaty, the United States decided to redistribute the quota of nuclear charges available to them in favor of naval and the Air Force.
By 2018, the General Staff planned to leave 400 ICBMs in service, for this purpose 50 missiles were to be transferred to the status of non-deployed and sent to warehouses, and mines to be dismantled.
The main goal of today's ground-based nuclear forces, the command sees the creation of a potential threat to a potential enemy, so that he was forced to use the lion's share of his charges to destroy American silos.
Floating fortresses
For a long time, the United States strengthened its status as an ocean power, respectively, the Navyis the main link in the country's defense capability. It is not surprising that nuclear submarines equipped with the most modern intercontinental ballistic missiles form the basis of the US strategic nuclear forces.
These floating fortresses are virtually invulnerable to the enemy and are the most viable component of the US military. Therefore, in order to preserve the existing staffing of nuclear submarines, the most promising developments of the ground component of nuclear forces were sacrificed.
Today, the US Navy has 14 Ohio-class SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines). Each of the submarines is equipped with a set of 14 Trident-2 missiles. This deadly missile carries MIRVs with 475 and 100 kT fusion warheads.
Due to their high accuracy, these missiles are able to hit well-defended enemy targets, even the deepest bunkers and invulnerable silo launchers can become victims of Tridents.
Proving their reliability in numerous tests, the Tridents have proven themselves well and remain the only ICBMs in service with the US Navy. They make up over fifty percent of America's strategic nuclear forces.
Nuclear submarines are based on two bases. On the Pacific coast is the base "Kings Bay", in the state of Georgia. On the east coast of the states, submarines go on combat duty from a base in Bangor, Washington.
Aviation
Aviation componentThe nuclear armed forces of the Atlantic power are strategic bombers capable of carrying formidable weapons of mass destruction. All of them have a dual purpose, that is, they are capable of performing tasks related to the use of conventional weapons.
The oldest and most honored aircraft of the US Air Force is the B-52H bomber, which was put into production in the middle of the 20th century. They are capable of carrying 20 air-to-air cruise missiles, as well as bombing with conventional weapons.
Despite its venerable age, this flying fortress retains excellent flying qualities, high flight range, can carry a significant load and a variety of weapons. The weak point of the veteran is his vulnerability to the air defense systems of the most likely enemy, so the strategy provides for his use on the distant approaches to defensive lines.
A more modern means of delivering cruise missiles is the B-1B bomber, which entered service in 1985. Due to the fact that he is able to solve tasks related to the use of conventional weapons well, these machines are being actively transferred to a non-nuclear status in order to maintain the START III status quo.
The pride of US aviation is the B-2A strategic bomber, put into service in 1993. It is made using the "Ste alth" technology, that is, it is invisible to radars and effectively overcomes the enemy's air defense barriers. It is intended forincluding for deep penetration into the rear and subsequent destruction of mobile systems equipped with ICBMs.
US and Russian nuclear forces
If we compare the strategic potential of the US and Russia, we can come to the following conclusions. Despite the significant difference in conventional armaments, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the nuclear forces of both powers are approximately on the same level, with the United States having some advantage. In other words, in the event of a hypothetical conflict between two countries, each side is capable of destroying the enemy, and more than once.
ABM (missile defense) systems developed by the United States are not capable of neutralizing Russia's offensive potential with one hundred percent probability, and therefore cannot yet provide an advantage to the Atlantic power.
