The forces of Russia‘s nuclear “triad“, land, naval and air forces, even in Kaliningrad, were recently put on high, but not the highest level of readiness: as sources of the Russian Ministry of Defence from Moscow tell defencenet.ru “We have increased readiness at all levels of the armed forces to face the challenges to the security of the country and when we say at all levels, we mean it perfectly. “

Decoding this phrase means that there has been an increase in the level of readiness of the nuclear forces, even in Kaliningrad, whose Russian enclave is “wedged” between Poland and Lithuania.

At least four Su-34, Su-24 fighter aircraft, etc. are already loaded with nuclear weapons.

To the existing nuclear weapons are now added those that Vladimir Putin has described as “unique in the world“. The Kinzhal supersonic missile system launched from fighters and bombers, the Zircon supersonic missile and in full production are the Avangard strategic supersonic glide missiles.

No one knows how many are on standby, but ten of them are enough to cause what Putin said today: ‘Any external actor who thinks of intervening should know that if he does so he will face the greatest consequences he has ever faced in history. I hope you will listen to me. ”

Why was the level of nuclear readiness increased, but not to the highest point? Because they want to send a “clear” signal to the West and especially to the US, but they do not want to escalate directly to the nuclear level.

In total, Russia has in its arsenal more than 6,500 nuclear warheads ready for launch in its nuclear “triad“.

It has currently increased its nuclear readiness in its land-based missile forces, the RVSN RF, which includes all land-based missile forces with a range of more than 1000 km. but also at the naval and air level.

The RVSN RF has three ballistic missile armies: the 27th, 31st and 33rd:

The 27th Army includes: the 7th Division with 18 RT-2PM Topol mobile launchers, the 14th Missile Division with 27 RT-2PM Topol mobile launchers, the 28th Ballistic Missile Guards Division with 29 UR-100NUTTHs in silos, the 54th Ballistic Missile Guards Division with 18 RT-2UTTH Topol-M and the 60th Missile Division with 41 UR-100NUTTHs and the 28th Ballistic Missile Guards Division with 29 UR-100NUTTHs in silos.

The 31st Army includes: the 13th “Red Banner” Missile Division with 30 R-36M2s in silos, the 42nd Missile Division with 27 RT-2PM Topol mobile launchers

The 33rd Army includes: the 35th Missile Division with 36 RT-2PM Topol missiles, the 39th Ballistic Missile Guards Division with 36 RT-2PM Topol mobile launchers, the 51st Ballistic Missile Guards Division with 27 RT-2PM Topol missiles and the 62nd Missile Division with 28 R-36M2s in silos.

Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) power: 434

58 R-36M2 (SS-18), 136 UR-100N (SS-19), 144 RT-2PM ‘Topol‘ (SS-25), 60 RT-2UTTH ‘Topol M‘ (SS-27), 18 RT-2UTTH ‘Topol M‘ (SS-27), 18 RS-24 ‘Yars‘ (SS-29)

 

The airborne nuclear force

Strategic and tactical bombers:

The entire bomber force is concentrated in two air divisions, the 22nd TBAD, the 326th TBAD and the 43rd Crew Evaluation and Training Center. All strategic bombers are under the jurisdiction of the 37th Army:

Units:

22nd Air Division based at AB Engels

– 121st TBAP Aviation Regiment – Engels Air Base – Tu-160 Blackjack

– 184th TBAP Air Regiment – Engels Air Base – Tu-95MS

– 52o TBAP Aviation Regiment – Shaikovka Air Base – Tu-22M3

– 840o TBAP Air Regiment – Sol‘cy Air Base – Tu-22M3

326th Aviation Division based in AB Ukrainka

– 182o GTBAP Aviation Regiment – Ukrainka Air Base – Tu-95MS

– 79th TBAP Air Regiment – Ukrainka Air Base – Tu-95MS (Tu-95KM, Tu-95K – Probably all “KM and K” series bombers modernized to “MS” level)

200o GTBAP Air Regiment – Belaya Air Base – Tu-22M3

– 444o TBAP Air Regiment – Vozdbizhenka Air Base – Tu-22M3


In the sea:Ballistic missile submarines (SSBN): 11 ( 3 Kalmar class project 667BDR (NATO Delta III), 1 Akula class Project 941UM (NATO Typhoon), 5 Delfin class, project 667BDRM (NATO Delta IV), 8 Borey class project 955

Cruise missile submarines (SSGN): 6 Granit and Antey Project 949 and Project 949A (NATO OscarI & Osxar II). They are to be replaced by the new Yasen class.

Nuclear-powered attack submarines:14 (2 Project 945A – NATO Sierra II, 4 Project 671RTMK – NATO Victor III, 5 Project 971 Schuka-B, (NATO Akula)

Conventional nuclear cruise missile submarines: 18 (17 Kilo class, 1 Lada class) , 14 Project 877, 1 Project 877EKM, 1 Project 877LPMB, 1 Project 877V, 3 Project 677 Lada class.