Strategic Rocket Forces is a major division of the Russian armed forces that controls Russia's land-based ICBMs. This division also existed in the military of the Soviet Union.

Overview

The Strategic Rocket Forces comprise the world's largest force of ICBMs, totalling 560 missiles able to deliver 1,970 nuclear warheads. Like most of the Russian military, the Strategic Rocket Forces have been limited in access to resources for new equipment since the end of the Cold War. However, the Russian government has made a priority of ensuring that the Rocket Forces recieve new missiles to phase out older, less-reliable systems, and to incorporate newer capabilities in the face of international threats to the viability of the nuclear deterrant effect provided by their missiles, in particular the development of missile defense systems in the United States.

Similar organizations in other nations include the U.S. Air Force Space Command in the United States and the 2nd Artillery Corps in China. Complimentary strategic forces within Russia are Strategic Aviation and the Russian Navy Strategic Fleet .

Composition

The composition of missiles and warheads of the Strategic Rocket Forces must be revealed as part of the START II treaty exchange. The latest date of exchange was January 1, 2005.

The Strategic Rocket Forces operate four distinct missile systems. The oldest system is the R-36M / SS-18 Satan which is capable of carrying ten warheads. 85 remain in service, although plans to retire the older of the two versions in service, the R-36MUTTH, will leave 40 of the less aged R-36M2 in service past 2020. The other missile capable of carrying a MIRV warhead is the UR-100NUTTH or SS-19 as it is known to NATO, with 129 in service with up to six warheads each. The most numerous missile serving is the Topol or SS-25, a road-mobile missile. Despite over 300 in service, they are reaching the end of their service lives and are due for replacement. The only new missile entering service is the Topol-M, or SS-27, and can be either silo-based or road-mobile. Deployment has begun with the announcement of the first operational unit, but full-scale entry into service is expected from 2006.

Organizationally, the Strategic Rocket Forces are divided into three Missile Armies, each with constituent Missile Divisions at each missile base. The commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces is Colonel General Nikolay Solovtsov , appointed on April 27, 2001 by President Vladimir Putin. Order of battle of the forces is as follows:

• 27th Guards Missile Army (HQ: Vladimir)
  • 7th Guards Missile Division at Vypolzovo with 18 Topol
  • 10th Guards Missile Division at Kostromo completing liquidation
  • 14th Missile Division at Yoshkar-Ola with 27 Topol
  • 28th Guards Missile Division at Kozelsk with 60 UR-100NUTTH
  • 54th Guards Missile Division at Teykovo with 36 Topol
  • 60th Missile Division at Tatischevo with 69 UR-100NUTTH and 40 Topol-M
• 31st Missile Army (HQ: Rostoshi)
  • 8th Missile Division at Yur'ya with 27 Topol
  • 13th Missile Division at Dombarovsky with 46 R-36M
  • 42nd Missile Division at Nizhniy Tagil with 36 Topol
  • 59th Missile Division at Kartaly completing liquidation
• 33rd Guards Missile Army (HQ: Omsk)
  • 23rd Guards Missile Division at Kansk with 45 Topol
  • 35th Missile Division at Barnaul with 36 Topol
  • 39th Guards Missile Division at Novosibirsk with 45 Topol
  • 51st Guards Missile Division at Irkutsk with 36 Topol
  • 62nd Missile Division at Uzhur with 40 R-36M

See also

• Military of Russia