Strategic Deterrence Forces: Structure, Capabilities and Tasks
Launch of a ground-based missile "Yars"
On Sunday, Supreme Commander and President Vladimir Putin ordered the transfer of the Strategic Deterrence Forces (SSS) of the Armed Forces to a special mode of combat duty. This order affects several branches of the military at once, capable of solving a wide range of tasks in the context of defense and strikes.
General questions
According to the Defense Terminology Handbook of the Department of Defense, CCCs are the backbone of our army's combat power. Their task is to contain the aggression of a potential enemy against Russia and its allies, as well as to defeat the enemy in the event of a war. In the latter case, the Forces must use all available means, incl. nuclear weapons.
The SSS are divided into Strategic Offensive Forces (SNA) and Strategic Defensive Forces (SOS), designed to solve opposite tasks. During the conflict, the SOS, using all available forces and means, must ensure the protection of the territory of Russia and allies from an aerospace attack using any means. The tasks of the SNS include delivering retaliatory strikes against the enemy in order to stop the aggression and subsequent defeat.
Mine-based ICBM R-36M - another model in service with the Strategic Missile Forces
The basis of the Strategic Offensive Forces is the Strategic Nuclear Forces (SNF). Accordingly, the SNA includes the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN), the submarine missile-carrying fleet and intercontinental aviation long-range aviation complexes (DA). In addition, the SNA includes part of the non-nuclear forces of the army, namely long-range aviation, naval aviation, submarines and surface ships with conventional weapons.
The structure of the Strategic Defense Forces, in turn, includes only the structures of the Aerospace Forces. These are the forces and means of the missile attack warning system, the space control system, anti-missile and anti-space defense, as well as air defense.
offensive potential
It is assumed that the main contribution to the processes of strategic deterrence is made by strategic nuclear forces, which have special capabilities to defeat the enemy. Land, sea and air missile systems are capable of carrying special warheads and delivering them to targets almost all over the planet. At the same time, the reflection of such a blow is extremely difficult or even impossible.
Launch of the Bulava missile from the SSBN "Knyaz Vladimir"
In quantitative and qualitative terms, the basis of our strategic nuclear forces is the Strategic Missile Forces, which are armed with a variety of ground-based missile systems. As part of stationary and mobile missile systems, ICBMs of a number of types are deployed - Topol and Topol-M, as well as the newer Yars. Only with mines are used products UR-100N UTTH and R-36M2. Recently, promising Avangard missile systems with fundamentally new hypersonic warheads have been on duty.
ICBMs are also deployed on strategic missile submarines (SSBNs). As part of the Northern and Pacific fleets, cruisers of several types are serving - projects "667BDR (M)" and "955 (A)". Older submarines are armed with R-29RM(U) ICBMs, while the newer R-30 Bulava are intended for the modern Borei.
Dropping a cruise missile from a Tu-160 bomber
The SNA also includes other ships and submarines of the Navy that are not equipped with nuclear weapons. As part of fleet there are many pennants of various types and classes, carrying one or another weapon. In particular, ships and submarines with the Kalibr missile system make a significant contribution to deterrence processes. In this context, it is necessary to recall naval aviation, which has long-range strike aircraft with a wide range of weapons.
The most important component of the SNA with its own functions and differences is long-range aviation, capable of solving various tasks using special and conventional ammunition. Our DA has a significant number of Tu-22M3, Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers; planned modernization is being carried out to improve performance and expand combat capabilities.
The main instrument of the DA in carrying out strikes against various targets are cruise missiles of several types, such as Kh-55 or Kh-101 in nuclear or conventional versions. It is also possible to use aerial bombs, controlled or free-falling.
Launch of "Caliber" missiles by a surface ship
Defense system
Strategic defensive forces from the SSS are built only on the components of the VKS. At the same time, we are talking about a fairly large number of structures capable of solving a wide range of tasks in the context of highlighting the situation, searching for threats and responding to them.
For the timely detection of threats and the fact of an attack, the SOS have a number of control and surveillance systems. There is a grouping of reconnaissance spacecraft of several types that monitor the territories of potential adversaries. Also, a number of types of radar stations operate along the perimeter of the country, including the over-the-horizon "Voronezh". They form a continuous radar field hundreds and thousands of kilometers deep outside the country.
The Outer Space Control System (SKKP) has been deployed, including several radar, radio engineering and optical systems in Russia and some neighboring countries. It is also possible to attract scientific organizations that have observatories. Separate anti-space defense functions are also available for the Don-2N missile defense radar.
Radar "Voronezh-DM" near Barnaul
Together with the SPRK, SKKP and other detection systems, air defense, air defense and missile defense systems operate. Thus, in the Moscow Region, the strategic missile defense system of Moscow and the Central Industrial Region is on duty. It includes its own Don-2N radar, a command post and a number of position areas with anti-missile launch systems.
Almost throughout the country, including remote areas of the Arctic and the Far East, there are deployed air defense systems with tactical missile defense functions, such as S-300P or S-400. The deployment of the latest S-500 systems has begun. Due to such equipment, a full-fledged layered anti-aircraft cover of all frontiers was created, incl. strategically important areas.
Special mode of duty
In general, the Russian Strategic Deterrence Force solves two global tasks in the field of defense. They are able to provide protection against any attack using strategic and / or tactical weapons, as well as to deliver a retaliatory strike of the required nature and power. To perform such tasks in one structure in the form of SSS, several branches of the military had to be assembled at once.
Shooting anti-aircraft system S-400
According to the Sunday order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the SSS were transferred to a special mode of combat duty. On Monday afternoon, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported on the implementation of the order. At the command posts of the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, as well as long-range aviation, reinforced shifts are now on duty. All necessary activities are being carried out corresponding to the introduced level of readiness.
Thus, in response to the sharp deterioration in the international situation and the emergence of new risks, our country is taking the necessary military measures. The deployment of the Strategic Deterrence Force should warn a potential adversary against further escalation and rash actions - which will certainly receive an appropriate response by all available forces.
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