“We hope that this event will cool down the “hot heads” in Western capitals”

OTRK "Iskander" participating in strategic nuclear forces maneuvers
A few days ago, exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces began in our country. As part of these events, units and formations of different types of troops will show their skills in working with special ammunition and their delivery vehicles. The exercises are divided into several stages and will be held at a number of training grounds, incl. in neighboring countries. The purpose of such maneuvers is to maintain the required level of readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces.
Practical practice of questions
The Ministry of Defense announced the imminent holding of exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces (NSF) on May 6. On instructions from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the General Staff began preparations for such events. The start of the exercises was planned for the near future, but the exact date was not specified.
The exercises were to involve units of several branches of the armed forces involved in the NSA. This list included missile units from the Southern Military District, combat aviation and naval ships fleet. The exact composition of forces and assets that were supposed to take part in the exercises, for obvious reasons, was not reported.

Loading missiles onto launchers
During the planned exercises, the involved units and formations were to carry out a set of activities to practice the preparation and use of nuclear weapons. weapons non-strategic class. The main goals of such exercises were to maintain and increase the readiness of nuclear forces. In addition, they noted the role of such weapons in the processes of protecting national interests and the territorial integrity of the state in the face of unfriendly and provocative statements and actions of third countries.
Soon new details began to emerge. Thus, already on May 9, the President of the country, Vladimir Putin, personally commented on the preparation of the NNF exercises. He noted that there is nothing unusual in such events, and this is a planned work of the troops.
The head of state also revealed interesting information about the geography of the exercises. He recalled that Russian strategic nuclear forces were recently deployed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. In this regard, the Belarusian army was invited to take part in the maneuvers, and President Alexander Lukashenko took a similar initiative. The two countries easily agreed, and the Belarusian military will also take part in our maneuvers.
The first stage
Preparation for the exercise took about two weeks. During this time, the relevant structures of the armed forces held a number of different events behind closed doors. Apparently, during this time the General Staff worked out precise plans for the exercises, and other organizations prepared the required products and ammunition for further practical activities.

Iskanders are deploying to the position. Head parts retouched for privacy reasons
The first stage of the NNF exercises started on May 21. In accordance with previous the news and plans, the activities involve units and formations of the Southern Military District and the Aerospace Forces. The exercises are managed by the General Staff. Following the results of the first day of the exercises, the Ministry of Defense published a brief message about past events, and also published a video from combat units.
During the first stage of the exercises, the missile units of the Southern Military District, equipped with Iskander complexes, received special warheads for existing missiles. They were installed on delivery vehicles, after which the complexes with such missiles were sent to the position area for training launches.
The official video from the exercise from the Ministry of Defense shows the advance of the Iskander OTRK column to the reloading site, the process of loading ammunition and the subsequent deployment to the launch position. It is curious that during the exercises the use of both ballistic and cruise missiles is being tested - both weapon options have the ability to carry a special warhead.

Cruise missiles are also used as part of OTRK exercises
In parallel, training non-strategic nuclear warheads were received by the Aerospace Forces units, whose personnel worked out the issues of installing them on missiles. Ammunition of the Kh-22 and Kinzhal types was then suspended on standard carriers in the form of Tu-22M3 and MiG-31 aircraft, respectively. At the same time, the missile carriers underwent the necessary training for a combat training mission.
There have not yet been any new reports on the progress of the NNF exercises. The Ministry of Defense does not specify how the activities are taking place, when the first stage will end and the next one will begin, etc. However, information of this kind can be expected in the very near future - as various episodes and stages of the exercises take place.
Forces and means
The current exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces, according to the head of state, are a planned work of the troops and are not something unusual. However, the very fact of their holding attracts attention. In addition, the forces and means involved in the maneuvers, as well as their capabilities, are of interest. At the same time, the latest news did not mention all of the non-strategic nuclear potential of the Russian armed forces.

Tu-22M3 bomber involved in the exercises
The official materials of the Ministry of Defense about the current exercises include the Iskander tactical missile system with missiles of different classes. According to known data, the ballistic missile of the 9M723 complex, as well as the cruise missiles 9M728 and 9M729, carry a payload weighing 480 kg. The use of different warheads is envisaged, incl. tactical nuclear. According to various estimates, such ammunition has a power of no more than 50-100 kt. Both weapon options ensure hitting targets at ranges of up to 500 km.
The Tu-22M3 bombers involved in the exercises are capable of carrying Kh-22 or Kh-32 cruise missiles. These products are equipped with warheads weighing about 1 ton. In the case of the older X-22, the possibility of using a nuclear charge with a power of 350 kt was provided. The nuclear potential of the newer X-32 is unknown. It can be assumed that in this respect a modern rocket is at least as good as its predecessor. The launch range of the X-22 missile reached 600 km; for the X-32 this parameter could increase to 1 thousand km.
The NNF also uses Kinzhal aircraft ballistic missiles. It is assumed that such a product carries a warhead weighing 500 kt, and existing non-strategic nuclear warheads fit into these limits. The power of such warheads can be estimated at 50-100 kt. The launch range is at least 1,5-2 thousand km, excluding the combat radius of the carrier aircraft.
Previously, the Ministry of Defense reported that the Navy would participate in the NNF exercises. Apparently, the maneuvers involve ships equipped with missiles with special training warheads. Low-power nuclear charges can be used by several fleet missile systems installed on surface ships and submarines at once.

MiG-31 with the Kinzhal missile
First of all, these are cruise missiles of the Caliber family, designed to strike ground targets. They are capable of carrying a warhead with a capacity of at least 50 kt and delivering it to a distance of 1,5-2 thousand km. Some domestic anti-ship missiles have nuclear potential. Thus, the P-700 “Granit” missile has the ability to install a special warhead with a capacity of 50 kt, and for the P-1000 “Vulcan” products up to 1 Mt are intended.
The full list of missile systems capable of carrying a nuclear warhead used in current exercises remains unknown. The Ministry of Defense has already shown the preparation of several strike systems of this kind, and in the near future it may demonstrate the work of others.
Scheduled event
Thus, in accordance with the approved combat training plans, the Russian army is working on the operation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons and their carriers. The current exercises are divided into several stages, during which various tasks will be solved and events of various kinds will be carried out. All this will show the level of training of personnel and the state of the relevant systems and facilities.
It should be taken into account that the exercises are taking place against the backdrop of another deterioration in the international situation, as well as after a number of aggressive statements by foreign politicians. As a result, ongoing activities provide a highly transparent signal to foreign governments and thus contribute further to deterrence processes.
Information