Russia Deploys Strategic Nuclear Missiles

[Snazzy]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&ncid=535&e=15&u=/ap/20031222/ap_on_re_eu/russia_new_missiles


MOSCOW (AP) - Russia has deployed another batch of state-of-the-art intercontinental nuclear missiles after a two-year break in the program caused by a funding shortage.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov inaugurated the new set of Topol-M missiles at the Tatishchevo missile base in the central Saratov region Sunday, describing them as a "21st-Century weapon" unrivaled in the world.

"This is the most advanced state-of-the-art missile in the world," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in remarks broadcast by Russian television stations Monday. "Only such weapons can ensure and guarantee our sovereignty and security and make any attempts to put military pressure on Russia absolutely senseless."

The Interfax-Military News Agency said six Topol-Ms were deployed Sunday.

....

Arms race lives on....

[PackedForPerth]

1. Topol-M

And who are they going to shoot them at, Chechnya? :o

[mikehiggins]

3. Best bet? China and/or North Korea

Putin knows he's got nothing to worry about from the US.

I'd wait to see what other authorities have to say about these "state of the art" missles as well. I'm not sure but I don't think Russia has had a great amount of money free to build a nuclear deterrent.

Six missles, by the way, has to be measured up against the total tonnage of the US nuclear arsenal, including the polaris subs still out at sea. One sub carries way more than six missles.

Of course, if the Russian missles were aimeed at the Saudi and Kuwaiti oil fields, that might make a difference in the world power balance.

See how wonderful things get when we turn our backs on diplomacy and multinational negotiations.

Thanks again, Cowboy George.

[Minstrel Boy]

5. "Putin knows he's got nothing to worry about from the US"?

Hardly. The events of the past year have proven that the US is a renegade state led by a radical, ideological cabal helmed by a dull-witted, religious maniac. "Nothing to worry about"?

The US has been encroaching on Russia's strategic interests in Europe and Central Asia. It is garrisoning border states, and has adopted a threatening "preventative-war" posture. This is Putin pushing back, and it's directed clearly, I should think, at no one more than Bush.

[PackedForPerth]

6. Topol-M...

I'd wait to see what other authorities have to say about these "state of the art" missles as well.

Topol-M is a pretty good mobile launcher, single warhead launcher. I've heard that it is quite accurate.

I think it is sort of a Cold War leftover. They know they need to keep enough expertise on-board to make nuclear capable launchers and Topol-M is it, for now. They've got the GDP of the Netherlands stretched over 130 Russians. There's only so much the poor buggers can do.

Their tactical doctrine has to be something like France's old Force de Frappe, that is, they need to be able to cause unacceptable damage to anyone who out and out tries to destroy them. About the only people who might even consider such an option are the Chinese, and they have no motive to do so. Hell, they don't need to take over Eastern Russia. They can buy whatever they need out of it.

Russia needs buyers for it's military aircraft, space technology, steel and petrochemicals. It doesn't need to go creating strategic rivals.

[TheLastMohican]

16. Russia's tactical doctrine is the same as it used to be in SU

No half-measures as in France but a complete nuclear detterent force numbering over 10000 warheads. Putin was bragging the other day that maintaining such capacity would make any ABM defence a worthless project. Looks like he is right in this regard. Plus they are deploying soviet age SS-19 missiles that were kept without fuel for conservation purposes. I guess it is time to take them out from the shelves. I wouldn't take China into this equation yet, their nuclear strength is mediocre at best and they look at Russia in awe for a good rocket carrier. But this will change soon as China is certainly set to dominate the world.

Arms race....oh boy here we go again.

[Akuma007]

17. Not Polaris

We don't have POLARIS subs anymore....

Try Trident submarines....

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. The BEAR is definitely out of hibernation ! - Thanx Junior !!

. . v. de·ployed, de·ploy·ing, de·ploys
. v. tr.

1. To position (troops) in readiness for combat, as along a front or line.
2. To bring (forces or material) into action.
3. To base (a weapons system) in the field.
4. To distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically



. . From the Article:

"The Topol-M missiles, capable of hitting targets more than more than 6,000 miles away, so far have been deployed in silos. Its mobile version, mounted on a heavy off-road vehicle, is set to become operational next year, the Strategic Missile Forces chief, Col.-Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, said in televised remarks.


The daily Izvestia said that the Topol-M lifts off faster than its predecessors and maneuvers in a way that makes it more difficult to spot and intercept. It is also capable of blasting off even after a nuclear explosion close to its silo, the newspaper reported.


The Topol-Ms deployed so far have had single nuclear warheads, but it's planned to equip each missile with three individually targeted warheads, Izvestia said. "

/snip/

So what have you done Georgie-Boy?

I don't think Russia is worried about China, India, Britain, Canada, etc., etc,

WHO do you think they have in mind - huh? huh?

not nicked GeeDumbya for nothing !!

(sigh)

[soleft]

4. So, shouldn't we be invading Russia now?

[Cannikin]

7. or have them throw down there weapons...

and submit to inspections! Yeah right. Right after Iran and N. Korea do it.

[midnight armadillo]

8. Modified for anti-ABM?

Countermeasures to the US anti-ballistic missile system are pretty straightforward to implement. They are trivial in comparison to the difficulty in developing an ICBM in the first place. On top of that their effectiveness is such that ABM is completely, 100% completely worthless.

I wonder if this missile deployment is an initial attempt at deploying nukes equipped with this type of countermeasure.

[Vitruvius]

15. They're indeed a pretty good anti-ABM design; fast burn booster to

foil "boost phase" interception; midcourse & re-entry manuverability to foil midcourse and terminal interception. All while maintaining a low CEP to destroy hard targets.

The Bu$h ABM system would be a total waste even without the Topol-M; I think the Russians are rubbing it in by deploying it. Which is no problem for the Bu$h gang; they have no shame, and the design objective for their ABM system is to funnel money to defense contractors; intercepting missiles is irrelevant.

P.S: I remember -- when I was an undergraduate back in the '60s, attending a Physics colloquium on Nixon's ABM system (which had the same design objective). The first slide was the dictionary definition of "boondoggle"; the audience of physicists roared with laughter.

[bpilgrim]

9. the neoCONs are getting CALLED

all over the world, betcha they ain't got a contiginancy plan for that being this early and this broad in the 'game'.

in this zero sum game the only way to prevent massive death and destruction is to go to the brink... but with who we got at the helm i know EVERYONE fears they will TIP us over the edge.

:scared:

peace

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

10. Actually this is within accord with the START II treaty, which

requires Russia to dismantle all the SS-18's which are multiple-warhead missles and allows them to replace them with singe-warhead missles.
The Topol-M is "designed" as a single-warhead, but there is little doubt that it can be rapidly converted to a multiple-warhead should it be needed.
This is within the spirit of START II, which the Russians have not ratified as yet.

[Capt_Nemo]

14. START II is null and void according to the terms of the

Moscow treaty, brought to you by the shrub's State Department...

The quid pro quo is that Putin will allow the shrub to go ahead with
missile defense, as long as Russia is again free from constraints
to Re-MIRV their ICBMs, making their deterrent more affordable
and impossible to contain by missile defense systems.

That is why the Russians haven't ratified START II yet. It wasn't
much of a deal for them, and now that they are allowed to ditch it
they never will...

[GRClarkesq]

11. Replacements for aged equipment?

Did the Russian have any missles left from the cold war that would still go bang? Maitenance does not seem to be their strong suit in the post-Soviet era.

[Robb]

12. Who is this "Russia"....

...and when can we take their oil?

[loudnclear]

13. Hye, they have to keep up with the USA, don't they?

Bush has ushered in a new nuclear arms race...and military-industrial-complex is very, very happy!

A vote for Bush is a vote for war.