Global Security Newswire

Russia's strategic missile forces today launched a three-day drill expected to simulate the use of nuclear weapons, RIA Novosti reported (see GSN, Sept. 9, 2009).

Russian military personnel would follow procedures in the nation's recently adopted military doctrine for dealing with nuclear and conventional conflict, said strategic missile forces spokesman Col. Vadim Koval (see GSN, Feb. 9).

"The SMF are conducting command-and-staff drills on March 10-12 in line with the annual training program," he said. "A total of more than 2,000 servicemen and 150 theater- and tactical-level command-and-control centers take part in the drills," Koval added.

The missile forces carried out 11 major drills and two strategic missile test-firings last year, according to RIA Novosti.

Within six years, Moscow intends to upgrade the command-and-control infrastructure of its strategic missile systems to make the nation's deterrent less susceptible to enemy missile interceptors and bolster the resilience of its delivery systems.

The Russian strategic missile forces possess 538 ICBMs, a number that includes 306 SS-25 Sickle missiles, 88 SS-18 Satan missiles and 56 Topol-M missiles, RIA Novosti reported (RIA Novosti, March 10).

ITAR-Tass, though, reported that the group holds 466 ICBMs that could carry 1,357 nuclear warheads (ITAR-Tass, March 10).