C.I.S. Nuclear Forces

ICBMs comprise most of C.I.S.' nuclear deterrent. This is due to several reasons: the lack of warm water ports for submarines and the inherent problems of long-range bombers. C.I.S. ICBMs tend to be larger and carry bigger warheads. This is due to the poor accuracy of their missiles, thus a greater yield is needed to ensure that the target is destroyed.

The Russian force consists of the SS-18, SS-19, SS-24, SS-25 and the SS-27. START II will eliminate the SS-18 missiles, and the SS-19 will no longer be MIRVed.

The strategic warheads once deployed in the republics of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus have been withdrawn and returned to Russia.

ICBMs

Name	Launchers	Warhead x yield (kilotons)	Total warheads	Total megatons
SS-18 M4/M5/M6 (Satan)	180	10 x 550/750 (MIRV)	1,800	990
SS-19 M3 (Stiletto)	160	6 x 550 (MIRV)	960	720
SS-24 M1/M2 (Scalpel)	36/10	10 x 550 (MIRV)	460	253
SS-25 (Sickle)	360	1 x 550	360	198
SS-27 (Sickle-M)	10	1 x 550	10	198
Total	756		3,590	2,167

SLBMs

Name	Launchers/ SSBNs	Warhead x yield (kilotons)	Total warheads	Total megatons
SS-N-18 M1 (Stingray)	176/11	3 x 500 (MIRV)	528	264
SS-N-20 M1/M2 (Sturgeon)	60/3	10 x 200 (MIRV)	600	120
SS-N-23 (Skiff)	112/7	1 x 100 (MIRV)	448	45
Total	348/21		1,576	429

Bombers

Name	Launchers	Warhead x yield (kilotons)	Total warheads	Total megatons
Tu-95 MS6 (Bear H6)	29	6 AS-15A ALCMs or bombs	174	44
Tu-95 MS16 (Bear H16)	35	16 AS-15A ALCMs or bombs	560	140
Tu-160 (Blackjack 25)	6	12 AS-15B ALCMs, or 12 AS-16 SRAMs or bombs	72	18
Total	70		806	202

Grand Total	1,174		~5,972	~2,800

Information compiled by Robert S. Norris and William M. Arkin of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Inquiries should be directed to:

NRDC, 1200 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C., 20005 (v) 202-289-6868.

Source: Bulletin of Atomic Scientists and NRDC

C.I.S. Nuclear Forces

ICBMs

SLBMs

Bombers

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