Russia plans this year to field two more regiments equipped with mobile and fixed-site Topol-M missiles, ITAR-Tass reported (see GSN, Nov. 19, 2009).
"So a total number of the regiments with Topol-M weapon systems ... will be increased from seven to nine," said Russian strategic missile forces spokesman Col. Vadim Koval.
"The strategic missile troops plan to put on stand-by alert in 2010 another two regiments with Topol-M missiles," he said. "The sixth regiment, with stationary Topol-M weapon systems, will become part of the Tatishchev missile unit. Another one, with mobile Topol-M missiles, will become part of the Teikovo missile unit, which is equipped with mobile missile complexes of the same type."
Russia has six fourth- and fifth-generation missile systems on active duty, the official said, adding that two of the systems use mobile launchers while the others use silos. Fixed-site nuclear weapons comprise 45 percent of strategic missile force launch sites and incorporate 85 percent of its nuclear warheads.
"About two-thirds of nuclear warheads of the Russian strategic nuclear force are concentrated in the strategic missile troops. They are capable of hitting targets on the enemy territory within a few minutes," Koval said.
By 2016, only one-fifth of the missile systems controlled by the strategic missile troops are expected to have had their service lives extended, he said.
"The control over the troops and the weapons will be upgraded. Aside from it, new missile complexes will be designed, including for the purpose of replacing ... the missile complexes fitted with [SS-18] missiles," Koval said (ITAR-Tass, Jan. 6).