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Updated August 2004
Nuclear Facilities
Nuclear Weapons
When the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991, Kazakhstan inherited 1,410 nuclear warheads deployed on RS-20 [NATO designation SS-18 'Satan'] missiles and Tu-95 [Bear] heavy bombers.[1,2] The Kazakhstani parliament approved the ratification of the START I Treaty on 2 July 1992. Kazakhstan formally acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on 14 February 1994 and transferred its last nuclear warhead to Russia in April 1995.[4,5]
This overview provides information on Kazakhstan's former ICBM and heavy bomber capabilities and summarizes the country's disarmament activities.
Sources:
[1] "The Politics of Renunciation: The Cases of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine," Occasional Paper No. 22, Henry L. Stimson Center Website, http://www.stimson.org/pubs/zeronuke/potter.pdf, April 1995, p. 5.
[2] Richard G. Lugar, Nunn-Lugar: The Past as a Guide to the Future, presentation at NISNP Conference Assessing U.S. Dismantlement and Nonproliferation Assistance Programs in the Newly Independent States, Monterey, CA, 13 December 1999.
[3] Bureau of Nonproliferation, "START I: Lisbon Protocol and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty," US State Department Website, http://www.state.gov/www/.../wmd/nuclear/npt/npt-95.html, 14 February 1995.
[4] "US Congratulates Kazakhstan for Removal of Nuclear Weapons," Nicholas Burns statement, US Department of State Website, http://www.state.gov, 26 May 1995.
[5] US Department of State Daily Press Briefing, US Department of State Website, http://www.state.gov, 26 May 1995.{Entered 9/20/2000 KB}
ICBM Force and Silo Dismantlement
The ICBM force deployed in Kazakhstan consisted of 104 SS-18 ICBMs tipped with 1,040 warheads, deployed at two missile bases: Zhangiz-Tobe (also known as Solnechnyy), Semipalatinsk Oblast; and Derzhavinsk, Turgay Oblast.[1] A total of 148 silos and other structures, including 104 SS-18 launch silos, 16 launch control centers, two SS-18 training silos, and 26 other silo structures, were located at four sites: Zhangiz-Tobe missile base; Derzhavinsk missile base; Leninsk test range, Kzyl-Orda Oblast; and Balapan test range, Semipalatinsk Test Site.[2]
All 1040 nuclear warheads associated with SS-18 ICBMs were transferred to Russia by 25 April 1995.[3] All 104 SS-18 ICBMs were removed to Russia for dismantlement by 5 September 1996.[4]
Destruction and dismantlement of all 148 missile silos and silo structures was carried out in a two-phase program, ending on 30 September 1999.[5] In Phase I, the United States awarded contracts through the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program to two Kazakhstani firms to remove silo equipment deemed valuable to the government of Kazakhstan. Russian strategic missile forces then destroyed silo headworks from April 1994 to August 1996 under an agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Russia. In Phase II, from July 1996 to September 1999, US Department of Defense contractors helped the Kazakhstani side with clean-up and final dismantlement of the destroyed silos.[6,7]
Sources:
[1] "The Politics of Renunciation: The Cases of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine," Occasional Paper No. 22, Henry L. Stimson Center Website, http://www.stimson.org/pubs/zeronuke/potter.pdf, April 1995, p. 5.
[2] "Kazakhstan: SS-18 Silo Elimination," Cooperative Threat Reduction Brochure, CTR Website, http://www.dtra.mil/ctr/11frame.html, August 1997.
[3] US Department of State Daily Press Briefing, State Department Website, http://www.state.gov, 26 May 1995.
[4] Kazakh Television First Program Network, 5 September 1996; in "Russia Completes Withdrawal of Nuclear Military Facilities," FBIS- SOV-96-174.
[5] NISNP e-mail correspondence with Defense Threat Reduction Agency official, 30 August 2000, KAZ970830.
[6] "Cooperative Threat Reduction Assistance to Kazakhstan," Stimson Center Nuclear Roundtable Website, http://www.stimson.org/rd-table/ctr-kaz.htm, 16 January 1997, pp. 1-2.
[7] "Deyatelnost sovmestnoy amerikano-kazakhstanskoy komissii v ramkakh programmy sovmestnogo umensheniya ugrozy, 1992-1997," CTR publication.{Entered 9/20/2000 KB}
Heavy Bombers/ALCM Force
A squadron of 40 TU-95 heavy bombers equipped with Kh-55 [NATO Designation AS-15A 'Kent'] ALCMs, tipped with 370 warheads, was stationed at Shagan Aerodrome, Semipalatinsk Test Site. Russia removed the 40 Tu-95 bombers and ALCMs from Shagan Aerodrome in February 1994.[1] All 370 warheads associated with Tu-95 bombers were removed by 25 April 1995.[2] Seven obsolete 1955-vintage bombers left behind by Russia were dismantled by August 1997 under the CTR program.[1,3]
Sources:
[1] "All Strategic Bombers Out Of Kazakhstan; Talks On Those In Ukraine," RFE/RL News Briefs, Vol. 3, No. 9, 21-25 February 1994.
[2] US Department of State Daily Press Briefing, State Department Website, http://www.state.gov, 26 May 1995.
[3] "Kazakhstan: Strategic Bomber Elimination," Cooperative Threat Reduction Brochure, CTR Website, http://www.dtra.mil/ctr/11frame.html, August 1997.{Entered 9/20/2000 KB}
