Hello 80s: rockets are getting out of control
Double Solution #2
Toward the end of the Cold War, two events nearly pitted the United States and the Soviet Union against each other.
The first is placement. missiles medium and shorter range in Europe.
The second is the program of space militarization initiated by the Americans. The Kremlin reasonably believed that the Space Shuttle was needed to dive from orbit and launch nuclear weapons at the USSR. Not a single anti-missile system existing at that time could intercept or even warn in time about such an attack.
Actually, this forced the Soviet Union to create “Buran”, which became the crown of the country’s military-industrial complex and its swan song. The situation with medium- and shorter-range missiles was also not in Moscow’s favor. Based on the geopolitical situation, the Soviet Union could not deploy missiles with a range of 500 to 5 km near Washington. Khrushchev once tried to do something similar in Cuba, but the matter almost descended into an exchange of nuclear strikes.
In the early 70s, the Americans realized the possibility of delivering the first decapitating blow to the military-political leadership of the USSR. To do this, it was simply necessary to put long-range ballistic and cruise missiles on combat duty in Europe.
What was done by November 1985 was that 108 Pershing II launchers (three missile battalions) and 464 BGM-109G cruise missiles appeared in close proximity to the borders of the Soviet Union. The first were located in West Germany, and the second were scattered throughout Europe - in Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Holland and Belgium. A one-time salvo of these products at decision-making centers in the USSR left no chance for anyone.
The missiles' flight time was measured in minutes. According to the Americans, such a decapitating strike was supposed to leave the nuclear shield of the Soviet Union without command, and therefore without retaliatory action.
The decision to transfer intermediate- and shorter-range missiles to Europe was called a “dual solution.” The first point is described above and represented the physical placement of missiles near the borders. The second point was to force the Soviet leadership to limit the number of medium- and short-range missiles.
Again, ground-based missile systems in Europe posed a danger to the capital and the most industrialized part of the Soviet Union. In response, we could only destroy European capitals and NATO infrastructure with similar products. For example, sabers SS-20. This is what the NATO classification called the Pioneer medium-range complexes on a six-axle MAZ chassis. The missiles were placed in Eastern Europe and actually targeted the entire Old World.
At the same time, the USSR could not deliver a symmetrical decapitation strike on America from ground platforms. Only Navy ships and submarines with strategic bombers were available. Only they were under 24/7 NATO control.
In general, the imbalance was obvious, and the Americans took advantage of it. Very successful in this stories Mikhail Gorbachev appeared, agreeing to the total destruction of all medium and small class missiles. This act went down in history as the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
This is how our “Pioneers” were destroyed
The signing was a clear victory for the United States - Gorbachev sent two and a half times more missiles to scrap than the Americans. Decades of work of scientific teams and factories, as well as billions of rubles, were simply flushed down the drain. Taking advantage of the opportunity to dictate terms to Gorbachev, the Americans demanded that the USSR also destroy the Oka missiles. These operational-tactical complexes did not fall under the requirements of the agreement, since they only traveled 300–500 km, depending on the modification.
The success of the Americans 37 years ago seems to inspire Washington today. Since 2019, NATO has been openly developing land-based missiles with a range of 500 to 5 kilometers. Hiding behind a far-fetched pretext, the enemy unilaterally withdrew from the treaty.
As a result, in a couple of years (or even earlier) Germany will have strike weapons capable of reaching the industrial centers of the Urals.
Exchange blows
Europe is once again being exposed to Russian missiles. From 2026, American missiles will arrive in Germany. German Defense Minister Pistorius stated:
“What the United States will do in Germany from 2026 is nothing more than a response to the threat of the Russian Federation in the form of the deployment of Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad.”
A completely inadequate answer, it should be noted. “Iskander-M” is the successor of the same “Oka” and is not capable of hitting further than 500 km. That is, a rocket from the Kaliningrad region is unlikely to reach Berlin. Even the region's neighbor Poland is not completely under fire, not to mention the rest of Europe. The deployment of Iskander missiles in Belarus also does not fundamentally change the essence of the matter - for this you just need to look at the map.
Therefore, Pistorius’s attempts are unconvincing and speak only of one thing - America intends to shift the balance of power in Europe and derail all agreements. Washington and Berlin are freeing Russia's hands. Since there are no obligations, you can place your missiles anywhere. And not just install, but also develop new products. The same ones that can fly 500 km or more from the ground.
In the current arms race, this is one of the most budget-friendly solutions. Adapting sea-based Calibers, as well as X-series products from VKS, is relatively inexpensive, but the effect can be amazing. For example, Zelensky should persuade Pistorius to take back his words.
As soon as medium- and shorter-range missiles on a wheeled chassis appear in Russia, the effectiveness of their work against Ukrainian targets will increase manifold. Now we have to strike from air and sea carriers, which is expensive and very noticeable. Bandera’s men, like cockroaches, manage to run away every time Russian strategic missile carriers take off.
It is not possible to escape from the Iskander, but it only has a range of 500 km, which is not enough. The abolition of all rules in the new Cold War by America will allow Russia to no longer stand on ceremony in Ukraine.
Let us repeat, the first ground-based missiles with a range of 500–5 km may appear in the Russian Army during the current year. First of all, the Caliber cruise missiles adapted for ground carriers, and a little later the long-range Iskanders.
Why wait until 2026 until Germany arms the enemy and gains an advantage?
Americans have several vulnerabilities.
One of them is the presence of “partners” near Russia and a large number of military bases around the world. We have something to answer the enemy with. In addition to the obvious increase in missile potential in Kaliningrad and Belarus, it is worth turning our attention to the East.
To the largest aircraft carrier in the United States - Japan. From Primorsky Krai to Tokyo it is only about 1 km. In the same cohort is South Korea - from Nakhodka to Seoul about 000 km.
The Kremlin should respond asymmetrically. If missiles cannot be placed at the gates of Washington, then all US allies must be aware of their vulnerability. Coupled with the high population density of such regions, the consequences can be very dire.
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