On the eve of the arms race: What is the difference between Russian and US nuclear forcesScience and technology10:00 | February 27, 2023

On August 2, 2019, the agreement between Russia and the United States on the elimination of medium and short-range missiles was finally terminated. In February 2023, Russia suspended participation in the Treaty on the Limitation of Nuclear Arsenals. What are the nuclear capabilities of the Russian Federation and the USA today?

According to data from open sources, Russia has about 4.5 thousand nuclear warheads. Also, about 2,000 nuclear warheads are in naphthalene, of which 16 are on combat duty, about 800 in ground-based ballistic missiles, 600 in submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and 200 in heavy bomber bases. Russia as a whole has different types of missile systems. The share of modern weapons and military equipment in the nuclear triad of the Russian Federation is about 88%.

The United States has about 5,800 nuclear warheads in service. As projectiles, they are used in two types of intercontinental ballistic missiles: Minuteman-3 (mine-based) and Trident (launched from Guyo-class submarines). The air component consists of strategic bombers B-52, B1 Lancer, B2 Spirit. In 2005, the Americans abandoned the use of ground-based missiles at mobile installations. In addition, the Pentagon has not been dealing with ballistic missiles for 30 years. Now the United States is creating a new missile that will replace the Minuteman-3, which will enter service only in 2029. At the same time, the air-launched nuclear cruise missile should become operational by 2025.

Currently, Russia and the United States have a little over 1,500 nuclear shells deployed and ready for use. This is much less than during the Cold War. And countries do not have hydrogen bombs that can destroy the entire continent in an instant. This is due to the increased accuracy of missiles. Most of the current weapons of the United States and the Russian Federation are aimed at military installations, missile silos, submarine parking lots with nuclear weapons, and aircraft airfields of similar capabilities. It is quite possible that both countries will gradually be drawn into a nuclear war.

In any case, Russia will not be completely destroyed in a nuclear attack. This is explained by the fact that the country has a large area and low population density. And there will not be enough blame for the complete destruction of the United States. In addition, the total number of victims of a nuclear attack would exceed hundreds of millions of people.