At the annual expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia’s Strategic Missile Force in 2021 will get 13 launchers with Yars and Avangard intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Follow New Defence Order. Strategy on Google News.
Below is an excerpt from Shoigu's speech at the ministry’s enlarged board meeting on Monday.
Our nuclear triad is maintained at a level that guarantees strategic deterrence. Over 95% of our strategic missile forces are continuously ready for combat use. Our long-range aircraft are successfully patrolling the air space. This year, our strategic missile carriers performed 50 flights on pre-set routes. Our nuclear missile submarines are on scheduled combat service in assigned areas in the World Ocean.
The high combat readiness of our strategic nuclear forces is ensured by the unprecedented level of our modern arms, which stands at 86%. This year, three missile regiments of the strategic missile forces have been reequipped with Yars missiles. The 1st regiment continues to be reequipped with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle. The aviation strategic nuclear forces have been armed with five upgraded Tu-95 MS missile carriers.
The Navy has received a flagship Borei-A class nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Vladimir armed with Bulava ballistic missiles and cutting-edge systems for overcoming missile defence. Modern infrastructure has been created for the Yars and Avangard missile systems. This year over 950 structures and facilities have been built for the strategic missile forces.
Regarding re-equipping. The strategic missile forces must receive 13 launchers with Yars and Avangard ICBMs. Using the additional allocations for the manufacture of these systems, we must reach the level of 88.3% for modern strategic nuclear forces.
We must complete the construction of infrastructure for Yars and Avangard systems in Kozelsk, Yasnoye, Uzhur, Novosibirsk and Yoshkar Ola. We also need to complete the Severo-Yeniseysky proving ground for summer tests of the Sarmat missile system and start state tests of the upgraded Tu-160 aircraft. The Navy will receive two Borei-A class nuclear-powered submarines, Knyaz Vladimir and Generalissimo Suvorov, equipped with Bulava ballistic missiles.
