America's nuclear missiles. Russia and the USA: what is hidden behind the threats of the use of nuclear weapons. Let's change the way we look at nuclear weapons
Every year, the systems installed here more and more resemble museum exhibits. At the top, more and more international treaties are being concluded, according to which these wells are closed one by one. But every day, the next crews of the US Air Force descend into concrete dungeons in anticipation of something that absolutely should not happen ...
Another day of service The next watch carries suitcases with secret documents, fastened with steel cables to overalls. People will descend into the bunker on a 24-hour watch, taking control of ballistic missiles hidden under the grasslands of Montana. If the fateful order comes, these young Air Force officers will not hesitate to unleash their apocalyptic weapons.
Joe Pappalardo
An inconspicuous ranch about fifteen meters from a bumpy two-lane road southeast of Great Falls, Montana. A primitive one-story building, a chain link fence, a garage set in the outskirts and a basketball backboard right above the driveway.
However, if you look closely, you can notice some funny details - a red-and-white lattice tower of a microwave radio tower rises above the buildings, here is a helicopter landing pad on the front lawn, plus another UHF cone antenna sticking out of the lawn like a white fungus. You might think that some university agricultural laboratory or, say, a weather station has settled here - only a red banner on the fence confuses, notifying that anyone who tries to enter the territory without permission will be met with fire to kill.
Inside the building, the security service scrupulously examines each incoming. The slightest suspicion - and guards with M4 carbines and handcuffs will immediately appear in the room. The massive entrance door moves vertically upwards - so even winter snow drifts will not block it.
After the checkpoint, the interior becomes the same as in a regular barracks. In the center there is something like a wardroom - a TV, sofas with armchairs and several long tables for common meals. Further from the hall exits to the cabins with bunk beds. Standard government-issued posters about stupid talkers and ubiquitous spies are hung on the walls.
The Malmstrom Air Force Missile Base controls 15 launchers and 150 silos. Its entire economy is spread over a territory of 35,000 km 2. The control bunkers were buried so deep and spaced so far apart to survive a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union and preserve the possibility of a nuclear retaliatory strike. To disable such a system, the warheads must hit each launch position without missing.
One of the armored doors in the living area leads to a small side room. Here sits the flight security controller (FSC), a non-commissioned officer, the commander of the security of the launcher. A three-meter chest next to it is packed with M4 and M9 carbines. There is another door in this arsenal, which neither the dispatcher nor the guards should enter in any case, unless an emergency situation requires it. Behind this door is an elevator that goes six floors underground without stopping.
In a calm voice, FSC announces the ciphers for calling the elevator over the phone. The elevator will not rise until all passengers have left it and the front door in the security room is locked. The steel elevator door is opened by hand in much the same way as the blinds are rolled up, which in small shops protect windows and doors at night. Behind it is a small cabin with metal walls.
It will take us less than a minute to descend 22 m underground, but there, at the bottom of the hole, a completely different world will open before us. The elevator door is built into the smoothly curved black wall of the circular hall. Along the wall, breaking its monotony, thick columns of shock absorbers are installed, which should absorb the shock wave if a nuclear warhead explodes somewhere nearby.
Outside the walls of the hall, something rumbled and clanged exactly as the lifting gates of an old castle should clang, after which a massive hatch smoothly leaned outward, 26-year-old Air Force Captain Chad Dieterle is holding on to the metal handle. A good meter and a half thick, this shockproof plug is screen-printed with the letters INDIA. Dieterle, Commander of the Launch Control Center (LCC) India, is now halfway through the 24-hour watch, and this launch position itself was organized here at Malmstrom Air Force Base, back when the parents of this brave Air Force captain went to school.
The mines and the launch control panel, located at a depth of 22 m underground, are guarded around the clock. "Rocket monkeys", as they call themselves, train in a training silo - the same as real rockets. They replace the cables leading to the gyroscopes and on-board computers. These computers are hidden in bulky boxes that protect electronics from radiation.
LCC India is connected by cables to fifty other mines scattered in a 10-kilometer radius. Each silo contains one 18-meter Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The Air Force command refuses to report the number of warheads on each missile, but it is known that there are no more than three. Each of the heads can destroy all life within a radius of ten kilometers.
Having received the appropriate order, Dieterle and his henchmen in half an hour can send these weapons to any part of the globe. Lurking in silence underground, he turns an inconspicuous ranch, lost in the expanses of Montana, into one of the most strategically important points on the planet.
Small but effective
The US nuclear arsenal—about 2,200 strategic warheads that can be delivered by 94 bombers, 14 submarines, and 450 ballistic missiles—is still the backbone of the entire national security system. Barack Obama never tires of declaring his desire for a world completely free of nuclear weapons, but this does not contradict the fact that his administration unambiguously postulates regarding nuclear policy: “As long as there are stocks of nuclear weapons in the world, the United States will maintain its nuclear forces in state of full and effective combat readiness.
Since the end of the Cold War, the total number of nuclear warheads in the world has dropped drastically. True, now states such as China, Iran or North Korea are deploying their own nuclear programs and designing their own long-range ballistic missiles. Therefore, despite high-flown rhetoric and even sincere good intentions, America should not yet part with its nuclear weapons, as well as with aircraft, submarines and missiles that could deliver them to the target.
The missile component of the American nuclear triad has been in existence for 50 years, but year after year it finds itself at the center of tense discussions between Moscow and Washington. Last year, the Obama administration signed a new START III treaty with Russia on measures to further reduce and limit strategic offensive arms. As a result, the nuclear arsenals of these two countries must be limited to less than 1,550 strategic warheads within a seven-year period. Of the 450 active US missiles, only 30 will remain. In order not to lose the support of the "hawks" and simply skeptical senators, the White House has proposed adding $ 85 billion to modernize the remaining nuclear forces over the next ten years (this amount must be approved at the next meeting of Congress). “I will vote to ratify this treaty … because our president is clearly determined to make sure that the remaining weapons are really effective,” Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander said.
Mine of intercontinental ballistic missile. These mines hide their terrible nature behind a completely inconspicuous appearance. Some trucker will pass by on the highway and not even look back. He will never know that these 30-meter-deep mines hide nuclear weapons, maintained in a state of continuous alert.
Nuclear missile umbrella
So why does the Strategic Missile Force, a symbol of the end of the Cold War, remain at the center of defensive strategy, politics, and diplomacy of the 21st century? If we take three types of delivery vehicles (aircraft, submarines and ballistic missiles), then of them, intercontinental ballistic missiles remain the means of the most prompt reaction to aggression from the enemy, and indeed the most operational weapon that allows a preemptive strike. Submarines are good because they are almost invisible, nuclear bombers are capable of delivering precision pinpoint strikes, but only intercontinental missiles are always ready to deliver an irresistible nuclear strike anywhere in the world, and they can do it in a matter of minutes.
The American nuclear missile umbrella is now deployed over the whole world. “As representatives of the Air Force, we are convinced that America is obliged to keep at gunpoint and under threat any enemy object, wherever it may be, no matter how serious the protection it may cover, no matter how deep it is hidden,” he said. Lieutenant General Frank Klotz, who just stepped down in January as head of the Global Strike Command, the agency that controls nuclear bombers and ballistic missiles.
The launch positions of strategic missiles represent a major achievement in engineering terms. All these mines were built in the early 1960s, and since then they have been in full combat readiness 99% of the time. More interestingly, the Pentagon built these launch sites for only a few decades. When the MinutemanIII missiles are retired, all silos and launchers at Malmstrom Base will be mothballed and buried for a period of 70 years.
So, the Air Force has the most powerful weapons in the world, and the equipment to control these weapons was created in the space age, and not at all in the 21st century of information technology. Nevertheless, these old launch systems do their job much better than one might think. “Building a system that will stand the test of time and still perform brilliantly,” says Klotz, “is a true triumph of engineering genius. These guys in the 1960s thought through everything to the smallest detail, generously laying in a few redundant levels of reliability.
Thousands of dedicated officers at three air force bases - Malmstrom, base them. F.E. Warren in Wyoming and Mino in North Dakota spare no effort to keep the silo launchers in constant combat readiness.
The Minuteman III was retired in the 1970s with a retirement date set for 2020, but last year the Obama administration extended the series' lifespan by another decade. In response to this demand, the leadership of the Air Force drew up a schedule for the reorganization of the existing missile bases. A tangible fraction of those billions of dollars that were recently promised by the White House should go towards this.
Norm is perfection
Let's return to the India Launch Control Center, hidden under an inconspicuous ranch. Little has changed inside since the Kennedy administration. Of course, teletype paper printers have given way to digital screens, and upstairs servers provide the underground crew with both Internet access and even live TV when things are calm. However, the electronics here - hefty blocks inserted into wide metal racks and studded with many shining lights and illuminated buttons - resemble the scenery from the first versions of the Star Trek television series. Something really literally asks for an antique shop. Dieterle, with an embarrassed smile, pulls out a nine-inch floppy disk from the console - an element of the ancient, but still well-functioning Strategic Automatic Command and Control System.
Thousands of officers at US Air Force bases keep silo launchers on alert. Since 2000, the Pentagon has spent more than $7 billion to modernize this branch of the military. All work was aimed at ensuring that the Minuteman III model safely reached the retirement date, which was set for 2020, but last year the Obama administration extended the service life of this series for another ten years.
The missiles themselves and the equipment installed at ground level can still be somehow upgraded, but with underground mines and the launch centers themselves, everything is much more complicated. But time does not spare them. It is very difficult to fight corrosion. Any movement of the ground can break the underground communication lines.
The India Launch Control Center is one of 15 centers where missilemen from Malmstrom Air Force Base are on duty. “Take an ordinary house that is already 40 years old,” says Colonel Jeff Frankhouser, commander of the base maintenance team, “and bury it underground. And then think about how you will repair everything there. That's the same situation with us."
This missile base includes 150 nuclear ballistic missiles scattered across 35,000 km2 of launch sites in the mountains, hills and plains of Montana. Due to the large distance between the mines, the USSR could not disable all launch positions and command posts with one massive missile strike, which guaranteed America the possibility of a retaliatory strike.
This elegant doctrine of mutual deterrence implied the mandatory existence of a developed infrastructure. In particular, all these mines and command posts are interconnected by hundreds of thousands of kilometers of underground cables. The fist-thick bundles are woven from hundreds of insulated copper wires and laid in jackets that are pressurized. If the air pressure in the pipe drops, the maintenance team concludes that a crack has formed somewhere in the containment.
The communication system that spreads across the surrounding expanse is a matter of constant concern for the personnel of the Malmstrom base. Every day, hundreds of people - 30 teams at the control panels, 135 maintenance workers and 206 security fighters - go to work, keeping this whole economy in order. Some command posts are three hours away from the base. Heroes offended by fate, who are called Farsiders at the base, yearn in them. Jeeps, trucks and bulky self-propelled units dart around the surrounding roads every day to extract missiles from underground, and the total length of the roads at this base is 40,000 km, 6,000 of which are primers improved with gravel.
The mines were built on small plots purchased from the previous owners. You can freely wander along the fence, but you just have to go behind it, and the security service can open fire to kill.
The slogan reigns here: “Our norm is perfection,” and in order to ensure that no one ever forgets about this tough principle, a whole army of controllers looks after the staff. Any mistake may result in suspension from duty until the violator retakes the qualification exam. Such captious control applies to all services of the missile base.
The cook will receive a strict reprimand from the officer for using expired sauce for the salad or not cleaning the hood over the stove in time. And rightly so - food poisoning can undermine the combat readiness of a launch platoon with the same success as an enemy commando team would. Caution to the point of paranoia is a basic principle for all who serve on this base. “At first glance, it may seem that we are playing it safe,” says Colonel Mohammed Khan (until the very end of 2010 he served at the Malmstrom base as commander of the 341st Missile Battalion), “but look at this matter seriously, here we have real nuclear warheads ".
Weekdays of the bunker
To launch a nuclear ballistic missile, one turn of the key is not enough. If an appropriate command arrives at the India launch center, Dieterle and his deputy, Captain Ted Jivler, must verify the encryption sent from the White House with the cipher stored in the center's steel safes.
Then each of them will take their own triangular switch, fixing their eyes on the electronic clock ticking between the blocks of electronic equipment. At a given moment, they must turn the switches from the "ready" position to the "start" position. At the same moment, two rocket men on the other launcher will turn their switches - and only after that the ballistic missile will break free.
Each mine is suitable for only one launch. In the very first seconds, electronic components, ladders, communication cables, safety sensors and sump pumps will burn out or melt in it. Above the hills of Montana, a ring of smoke will rise, ridiculously exactly repeating the outlines of a mine vent. Relying on a column of reactive gases, the rocket will break out into outer space in a matter of minutes. Another half an hour, and the warheads would begin to fall on their targets.
The striking power of the weapons entrusted to these rocket men, and the entire measure of responsibility entrusted to them, is clearly emphasized by the harsh situation in the bunker. In the far corner is a simple mattress, fenced off with a black curtain so that the light does not hit the eyes. “It’s not a great pleasure to wake up in this nook,” says Dieterle.
And it's time for us to return to the world that rocket scientists call "real". Dieterle pulls on the handle of the black shockproof plug until it begins to rotate smoothly. He gives us a reserved smile as we leave, and the door slams shut behind us with a heavy thud. We are going up, and there, below, Dieterle remains and the same as him, in tense eternal expectation.
The era of ballistic missiles began in the middle of the last century. At the end of World War II, the engineers of the Third Reich managed to create carriers that successfully completed the tasks of hitting targets in the UK, starting from the ranges of continental Europe.
Subsequently, the USSR and the USA became leaders in military rocket building. When the leading world powers received ballistic and cruise missiles, this radically changed military doctrines.
The best ballistic missiles in the world - Topol-M
Paradoxically, the best missiles in the world, capable of delivering nuclear warheads anywhere in the world within minutes, were the main factor that prevented the Cold War from escalating into a real clash of superpowers.
Today, ICBMs are equipped with the armies of the USA, Russia, France, Great Britain, China, and, more recently, the DPRK.
According to some reports, cruise and ballistic missiles will soon appear in India, Pakistan and Israel. Various modifications of medium-range ballistic missiles, including Soviet-made ones, are in service with many countries of the world. The article tells about the best rockets in the world that have ever been produced on an industrial scale.
V-2 (V-2)
The first truly long-range ballistic missile was the German V-2, developed by a design bureau headed by Wernher von Braun. It was tested back in 1942, and from the beginning of September 1944, London and its environs were attacked daily by dozens of V-2s.
TTX products FAU-2:
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 14x1.65 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 12,5 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 1 | |
| Fuel type | liquid | mixture of liquefied oxygen and ethyl alcohol |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 1450 | |
| 320 | ||
| 5000 | design value within 0.5–1 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 1,0 | |
| Charge type | high-explosive, equivalent to ammotol 800 kg | |
| combat blocks | 1 | inseparable |
| Type of basing | ground | stationary or mobile launcher |
During one of the launches, the V-2 managed to rise 188 km above the ground and make the world's first suborbital flight. On an industrial scale, the product was produced in 1944-1945. In total, about 3.5 thousand V-2s were produced during this time.
Scud B (R-17)
The R-17 missile, developed by SKB-385 and adopted by the USSR Armed Forces in 1962, is still considered the standard for evaluating the effectiveness of anti-missile systems developed in the West. It is an integral part of the 9K72 Elbrus complex or Scud B in NATO terminology.
It proved to be excellent in real combat conditions during the Doomsday War, the Iran-Iraq conflict, was used in the II Chechen campaign and against the Mujahideen in Afghanistan.
TTX products R-17:
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 11.16x0.88 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 5,86 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 1 | |
| Fuel type | liquid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 1500 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | 300 | with a nuclear warhead 180 |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 450 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 0,985 | |
| Charge type | nuclear 10 Kt, high explosive, chemical | |
| combat blocks | 1 | not separable |
| rocket launcher | mobile | eight-wheel tractor MAZ-543-P |
Various modifications of cruise missiles of Russia and the USSR - R-17 were produced in Votkinsk and Petropavlovsk from 1961 to 1987. As the design life of 22 years expired, the SKAD complexes were removed from service with the RF Armed Forces.
At the same time, almost 200 launchers are still used by the armies of the United Arab Emirates, Syria, Belarus, North Korea, Egypt and 6 other countries of the world.
Trident II
The UGM-133A missile was developed for about 13 years by Lockheed Martin Corporation and was adopted by the US Armed Forces in 1990, and a little later by the UK. Its advantages include high speed and accuracy, which makes it possible to destroy even silo-based ICBM launchers, as well as bunkers located deep underground. Tridents are equipped with American Ohio-class submarines and British Wangard SSBNs.
TTX ICBM Trident II:
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 13.42x2.11 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 59,078 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 3 | |
| Fuel type | solid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 6000 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | 11300 | 7800 with the maximum number of warheads |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 90–500 | minimum with GPS guidance |
| Warhead mass, t | 2,800 | |
| Charge type | thermonuclear, 475 and 100 Kt | |
| combat blocks | 8 to 14 | split warhead |
| Type of basing | underwater |
The Tridents hold the record for the number of successful launches in a row. Therefore, a reliable missile is expected to be used until 2042. Currently, the US Navy has at least 14 Ohio SSBNs capable of carrying 24 UGM-133A each.
Pershing II ("Pershing-2")
The last US medium-range ballistic missile MGM-31, which entered the Armed Forces in 1983, became a worthy opponent of the Russian RSD-10, the deployment of which in Europe was begun by the Warsaw Pact countries. For its time, the American ballistic missile had excellent performance, including the high accuracy provided by the RADAG guidance system.
TTX BR Pershing II:
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 10.6x1.02 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 7,49 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 2 | |
| Fuel type | solid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 2400 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | 1770 | |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 30 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 1,8 | |
| Charge type | high-explosive, nuclear, from 5 to 80 Kt | |
| combat blocks | 1 | inseparable |
| Type of basing | ground |
A total of 384 MGM-31 missiles were fired, which were in service with the US Army until July 1989, when the Russian-American treaty on the reduction of the INF came into force. After that, most of the carriers were disposed of, and nuclear warheads were used to equip aerial bombs.
"Point-U"
Developed by the Kolomna Design Bureau and put into service in 1975, the tactical complex with the 9P129 launcher has long been the basis of the firepower of divisions and brigades of the Russian armed forces.
Its advantages are high mobility, which makes it possible to prepare a rocket for launch in 2 minutes, versatility in the use of various types of ammunition, reliability, and unpretentiousness in operation.
TTX TRK "Tochka-U":
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 6.4x2.32 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 2,01 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 1 | |
| Fuel type | solid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 1100 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | 120 | |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 250 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 0,482 | |
| Charge type | high-explosive, fragmentation, cluster, chemical, nuclear | |
| combat blocks | 1 | inseparable |
| Type of basing | ground | self-propelled launcher |
Russian ballistic missiles "Tochka" proved to be excellent in several local conflicts. In particular, the cruise missiles of Russia and the USSR, which are still Soviet-made, are still used by the Yemeni Houthis, who regularly successfully attack the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
At the same time, the missiles easily overcome the air defense systems of the Saudis. Tochka-U is still in service with the armies of Russia, Yemen, Syria and some former Soviet republics.
R-30 Bulava
The need to create a new Russian ballistic missile for the Navy, superior in performance to the American Trident II, arose with the commissioning of the Borei and Akula class strategic submarine missile carriers. It was decided to place Russian 3M30 ballistic missiles, which have been developed since 1998, on them. Since the project is under development, one can judge about the most powerful missiles in Russia only from the information that gets into the press. Without a doubt, this is the best ballistic missile in the world.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 12.1x2 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 36,8 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 3 | |
| Fuel type | mixed | the first two stages on solid fuel, the third on liquid |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 6000 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | 9300 | |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 200 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 1,15 | |
| Charge type | thermonuclear | |
| combat blocks | 6 to 10 | shared |
| Type of basing | underwater |
At present, Russian long-range missiles have been accepted into service conditionally, since some performance characteristics do not fully suit the customer. However, about 50 units of 3M30 have already been produced. Unfortunately, the best rocket in the world is waiting in the wings.
"Topol M"
Tests of the missile system, which became the second in the Topol family, were completed in 1994, and three years later, it was put into service with the Strategic Missile Forces. However, he failed to become one of the main components of the Russian nuclear triad. In 2017, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stopped purchasing the product, opting for the RS-24 Yars.
Modern rocket launcher of Russia "Topol-M" at the parade in Moscow TTX RK strategic purpose "Topol-M":
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 22.55x17.5 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 47,2 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 3 | |
| Fuel type | solid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 7320 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | 12000 | |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 150–200 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 1,2 | |
| Charge type | thermonuclear, 1 Mt | |
| combat blocks | 1 | inseparable |
| Type of basing | ground | in mines or on a tractor base 16x16 |
TOP is a Russian-made rocket. It stands out for its high ability to withstand Western air defense systems, excellent maneuverability, low sensitivity to electromagnetic pulses, radiation, and the effects of laser installations. At the moment, 18 mobile and 60 Topol-M mining complexes are on combat duty.
Minuteman III (LGM-30G)
For many years, the product of the Boeing Company is the only silo-based ICBM in the United States. However, even today, the American Minuteman III ballistic missiles, which entered combat duty as early as 1970, remain a formidable weapon. Thanks to the upgrade, the LGM-30G received more maneuverable Mk21 warheads and an improved sustainer engine.
TTX ICBM Minuteman III:
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 18.3x1.67 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 34,5 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 3 | |
| Fuel type | solid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 6700 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | 13000 | |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 210 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 1,15 | |
| Charge type | thermonuclear, from 0.3 to 0.6 Mt | |
| combat blocks | 3 | shared |
| Type of basing | ground | in the mines |
Today, the list of American ballistic missiles is limited to Minutements-3. The US Armed Forces have up to 450 units deployed in mine complexes in the states of North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Replacing reliable, but obsolete missiles is planned to be carried out no earlier than the beginning of the next decade.
"Iskander"
The Iskander operational-tactical systems, which replaced the Topols, Tochkas and Elbrus (the well-known names of Russian missiles), are the best missiles of the new generation in the world. Super-maneuverable cruise missiles of tactical systems are practically invulnerable to air defense systems of any potential enemy.
At the same time, the OTRK is extremely mobile, deploying in a matter of minutes. Its firepower, even when fired with conventional charges, is comparable in effectiveness to an attack with nuclear weapons.
TTX OTRK "Iskander":
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 7.2x0.92 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 3,8 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 1 | |
| Fuel type | solid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 2100 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | 500 | |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 5 to 15 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 0,48 | |
| Charge type | cluster and conventional fragmentation, high-explosive, penetrating munitions, nuclear charges | |
| combat blocks | 1 | inseparable |
| Type of basing | ground | 8x8 self-propelled launcher |
Due to its technical excellence, the OTRK, put into service in 2006, will have no analogues for at least another decade. Currently, the RF Armed Forces have at least 120 Iskander mobile launchers.
"Tomahawk"
Tomahawk cruise missiles, developed by General Dynamics in the 1980s, have been among the best in the world for almost two decades due to their versatility, ability to move at ultra-low altitudes, significant combat power and impressive accuracy.
They have been used by the US Army since their adoption in 1983 in many military conflicts. But the most advanced missiles in the world failed the United States during the controversial strike on Syria in 2017.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 6.25x053 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 1500 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 1 | |
| Fuel type | solid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 333 | |
| Maximum flight range, km | from 900 to 2500 | depending on how you start |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | from 5 to 80 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 120 | |
| Charge type | cluster, armor-piercing, nuclear | |
| combat blocks | 1 | not separable |
| Type of basing | universal | land mobile, surface, underwater, aviation |
Various modifications of the Tomahawks are equipped with American submarines of the Ohio and Virginia classes, destroyers, missile cruisers, as well as the British nuclear submarines Trafalgar, Astyut, Swiftshur.
American ballistic missiles, the list of which is not limited to the Tomahawk and Minuteman, are obsolete. BGM-109s are still in production today. The production of only the aviation series has been discontinued.
R-36M "Satan"
Modern Russian SS-18 silo-based ICBMs in various modifications have been and are the basis of Russia's nuclear triad. These best missiles in the world have no analogues: neither in terms of flight range, nor in terms of technological equipment, nor in terms of maximum charge power.
They cannot be effectively countered by modern air defense systems. "Satan" has become the embodiment of the most modern ballistic technology. It destroys all types of targets and entire positional areas, ensures the inevitability of a retaliatory nuclear strike in the event of an attack on the Russian Federation.
TTX ICBM SS-18:
| Name | Meaning | Note |
| Length and diameter, m | 34.3x3 | |
| Takeoff weight, t | 208,3 | |
| Number of steps, pcs | 2 | |
| Fuel type | liquid | |
| Accelerating speed, m/s | 7900 | |
| Maximum range of missiles, km | 16300 | |
| Maximum deviation from the target, m | 500 | |
| Warhead mass, t | 5.7 to 7.8 | |
| Charge type | thermonuclear | |
| combat blocks | 1 to 10 | separable, from 500 kt to 25 Mt |
| Type of basing | ground | mine |
Various modifications of the SS-18 have been in service with the Russian army since 1975. In total, 600 missiles of this type have been produced during this time. Currently, all of them are installed on modern Russian launch vehicles for combat duty. Currently, the planned replacement of the R-36M with a modified version, a more modern Russian R-36M2 Voyevoda missile, is being carried out.
The new US nuclear doctrine, published in April 2010, declares that “ The main purpose of US nuclear weapons is to deter a nuclear attack on the US, its allies and partners. This mission will remain so as long as nuclear weapons exist.". United States " will consider the use of nuclear weapons only in emergency circumstances to protect the vital interests of the United States, its allies and partners».
However, the United States are not ready today to endorse a universal policy recognizing that the deterrence of a nuclear attack is the sole function of nuclear weapons". With respect to nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear states that, in Washington's assessment, are not fulfilling their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), " there remains a small set of additional contingencies in which nuclear weapons can still play the role of deterring conventional or chemical and biological weapons attack against the US, its allies and partners».
However, it is not disclosed what is meant by the aforementioned unforeseen circumstances. This should be regarded as a serious uncertainty in the US nuclear policy, which cannot but influence the defense policy of other leading states of the world.
To fulfill the tasks assigned to nuclear forces, the United States has a strategic offensive force (SNA) and non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSW). According to US State Department data released on May 3, 2010, the United States nuclear arsenal as of September 30, 2009 consisted of 5,113 nuclear warheads. In addition, several thousand obsolete nuclear warheads, decommissioned, were waiting to be dismantled or destroyed.
1. Strategic offensive forces
The US SNA is a nuclear triad that includes land, sea and aviation components. Each component of the triad has its own advantages, therefore, the new US nuclear doctrine recognizes that "preserving all three components of the triad in the best possible way will ensure strategic stability at acceptable financial costs and at the same time insure in case of problems with the technical condition and vulnerability of existing forces."
1.1. Ground component
The ground component of the US SNA consists of strategic missile systems equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). ICBM forces have significant advantages over other components of the SNS due to a highly secure control and management system, calculated in a few minutes of combat readiness and relatively low costs for combat and operational training. They can be effectively used in pre-emptive and retaliatory strikes to destroy stationary targets, including highly protected ones.
According to expert estimates, at the end of 2010, the ICBM forces had 550 silo launchers at three missile bases(silo), of which for the Minuteman-3 ICBM - 50, for the Minuteman-3M ICBM - 300, for the Minuteman-3S ICBM - 150 and for the MX ICBM - 50 (all silos are protected by shock wave 70–140 kg / cm 2):
Currently, ICBM forces are subordinate to the US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), created in August 2009.
All Minuteman ICBMs- three-stage solid-propellant rockets. Each of them has from one to three nuclear warheads.
ICBM "Minuteman-3" began to be deployed in 1970. It was equipped with Mk-12 nuclear warheads (W62 warhead with a capacity of 170 kt). The maximum firing range is up to 13,000 km.
ICBM "Minuteman-3M" began to be deployed in 1979. Equipped with Mk-12A nuclear warheads (warhead W78 with a capacity of 335 kt). The maximum firing range is up to 13,000 km.
ICBM "Minuteman-3S" began to be deployed in 2006. It is equipped with one Mk-21 nuclear warhead (W87 warhead with a capacity of 300 kt). The maximum firing range is up to 13,000 km.
ICBM "MX"- three-stage solid-propellant rocket. It began to be deployed in 1986. It was equipped with ten Mk-21 nuclear warheads. The maximum firing range is up to 9,000 km.
According to expert estimates, at the time of entry into force of the START-3 Treaty (Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States on measures to further reduce and limit strategic offensive arms) On February 5, 2011, the ground component of the US SNA had about 450 deployed ICBMs with approximately 560 warheads.
1.2. Marine component
The maritime component of the US SNA consists of nuclear submarines equipped with intercontinental-range ballistic missiles. Their well-established name is SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines) and SLBMs (submarine ballistic missiles). SSBNs equipped with SLBMs are the most survivable component of the US SNA. according to estimates to date, in the short and medium term there will be no real threat to the survivability of American SSBNs».
According to expert estimates, at the end of 2010, the naval component of the US strategic nuclear forces included 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, of which 6 SSBNs were based on the Atlantic coast (Naval Base Kingsbay, Georgia) and 8 SSBNs were based on the Pacific Coast (Naval Base Kitsan, Washington). Each SSBN is equipped with 24 Trident-2 SLBMs.
SLBM "Trident-2" (D-5)- three-stage solid-propellant rocket. It began to be deployed in 1990. It is equipped with either Mk-4 nuclear warheads and their modification Mk-4A (W76 warhead with a capacity of 100 kt), or Mk-5 nuclear warheads (W88 warhead with a capacity of 475 kt). Standard equipment - 8 warheads, actual - 4 warheads. The maximum firing range is over 7,400 km.
According to expert estimates, at the time of entry into force of the START-3 Treaty, the naval component of the US SNA included up to 240 deployed SLBMs with approximately 1,000 warheads.
1.3. Aviation component
The aviation component of the US SNA consists of strategic, or heavy, bombers capable of solving nuclear problems. Their advantage over ICBMs and SLBMs, according to the new US nuclear doctrine, is that they " can be defiantly deployed in the regions to warn potential adversaries in crisis situations about strengthening nuclear deterrence and to confirm to allies and partners of American obligations to ensure their security».
All strategic bombers have the status of "dual mission": they can strike with both nuclear and conventional weapons. According to expert estimates, at the end of 2010, the aviation component of the US SNS at five air bases on the continental United States had approximately 230 bombers of three types - B-52H, B-1B and B-2A (of which more than 50 units were in stock reserve ).
Currently, strategic air forces, like ICBM forces, are subordinate to the US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).
Strategic bomber V-52N- turboprop subsonic aircraft. It began to be deployed in 1961. Currently, only long-range air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) AGM-86B and AGM-129A are intended for its nuclear equipment. The maximum flight range is up to 16,000 km.
Strategic bomber B-1B- jet supersonic aircraft. It began to be deployed in 1985. Currently, it is intended to carry out non-nuclear tasks, but has not yet been withdrawn from the count of strategic nuclear weapons carriers under the START-3 Treaty, since the relevant procedures provided for by this Treaty have not been completed. The maximum flight range is up to 11,000 km (with one in-flight refueling).
- jet subsonic aircraft. It began to be deployed in 1994. At present, only B61 bombs (modifications 7 and 11) of variable power (from 0.3 to 345 kt) and B83 (with a capacity of several megatons) are intended for its nuclear equipment. The maximum flight range is up to 11,000 km.
ALCM AGM-86V- subsonic air-launched cruise missile. It began to be deployed in 1981. It is equipped with a W80-1 warhead of variable power (from 3 to 200 kt). The maximum firing range is up to 2,600 km.
ALCM AGM-129A- subsonic cruise missile. It began to be deployed in 1991. It is equipped with the same warhead as the AGM-86В missile. The maximum firing range is up to 4,400 km.
According to expert estimates, at the time the START-3 Treaty entered into force, there were about 200 deployed bombers in the aviation component of the US SNA, for which the same number of nuclear warheads were counted (according to the rules of the START-3 Treaty, one warhead is conditionally counted for each deployed strategic bomber, since in their day-to-day activities, they all do not have nuclear weapons on board).
1.4. Combat command of strategic offensive forces
The combat control system (SBU) of the US SNA is a combination of primary and backup systems, including primary and secondary stationary and mobile (air and ground) controls, communications and automated data processing systems. The SBU provides automated collection, processing and transmission of data on the situation, the development of orders, plans and calculations, bringing them to the executors and monitoring their implementation.
Main combat control system It is designed for the timely response of the SNA to a tactical warning of the start of a nuclear missile attack on the United States. Its main organs are the stationary main and reserve command centers of the Committee of the Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, the command and reserve command centers of the United States Joint Strategic Command, the command posts of the air armies, missile and aviation wings.
It is believed that with any options for unleashing a nuclear war, the combat crews of these command posts will be able to organize measures to increase the combat readiness of the SNA and transmit an order to start their combat use.
Reserve system of combat control and communications in an emergency combines a number of systems, the main of which are the reserve control systems of the US armed forces using air and ground mobile command posts.
1.5. Prospects for the development of strategic offensive forces
The current US SNA development program does not provide for the construction of new ICBMs, SSBNs and strategic bombers in the foreseeable future. At the same time, by reducing the overall reserve of strategic nuclear weapons in the implementation of the START-3 Treaty, “ The United States will retain the ability to “reload” a certain number of nuclear weapons as a technical safety net against any future problems with delivery systems and warheads, as well as in the event of a significant deterioration in the security situation.". Thus, the so-called "return potential" is formed by "de-arming" ICBMs and reducing the number of warheads on SLBMs by half.
As follows from the report of US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, presented to the US Congress in May 2010, after the implementation of the START-3 Treaty (February 2018), the US SNA will have 420 Minuteman-3 ICBMs, 14 SSBNs of the Ohio with 240 Trident-2 SLBMs and up to 60 B-52H and B-2A bombers.
The long-term, $7 billion worth of improvements to the Minuteman-3 ICBM under the Minuteman-3 Life Cycle Extension Program to keep these missiles in service until 2030 are almost over.
As noted in the new US nuclear doctrine, " although there is no need to decide on any follow-up ICBMs in the next few years, exploratory studies on this issue should begin today. In this regard, in 2011-2012. the Department of Defense will begin studies to analyze alternatives. This study will consider a range of different options for developing ICBMs to identify a cost-effective approach that will support further U.S. nuclear weapons reductions while providing a stable deterrent.».
In 2008, production of a modified version of the Trident-2 D-5 LE (Life Extension) SLBM began. On the whole, by 2012, 108 of these missiles will be purchased for more than $4 billion. Ohio-class SSBNs will be equipped with modified SLBMs for the rest of their service life, which has been extended from 30 to 44 years. The first in the Ohio SSBN series is scheduled to be withdrawn from the fleet in 2027.
Since it takes a long time to design, build, test and deploy new SSBNs, from 2012 the US Navy will begin exploratory research to replace existing SSBNs. Depending on the results of the study, as noted in the new US nuclear doctrine, the feasibility of reducing the number of SSBNs from 14 to 12 units in the future may be considered.
As for the aviation component of the US SNA, the US Air Force is exploring the possibility of creating strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which should replace the current bombers from 2018. In addition, as proclaimed in the new US nuclear doctrine, " Air Force will evaluate alternatives to inform 2012 budget decisions on whether (and if so, how) to replace current long-range air-launched cruise missiles that are expiring at the end of the next decade».
In the development of nuclear warheads, the main efforts in the United States in the coming years will be aimed at improving existing nuclear warheads. Started in 2005 by the Department of Energy as part of the RRW (Reliable Replacement Warhead) project, the development of a highly reliable nuclear warhead is now on hold.
As part of the implementation of the non-nuclear prompt global strike strategy, the United States continues to develop technologies for guided warheads and warheads in non-nuclear equipment for ICBMs and SLBMs. This work is being carried out under the leadership of the Office of the Minister of Defense (Department of Advanced Studies), which makes it possible to eliminate duplication of research conducted by the branches of the armed forces, spend money more efficiently and, ultimately, accelerate the creation of high-precision combat equipment for strategic ballistic missiles.
Since 2009, a number of demonstration launches of prototypes of intercontinental delivery vehicles being created have been carried out, but so far no significant achievements have been achieved. According to expert estimates, the creation and deployment of high-precision non-nuclear ICBMs and SLBMs can hardly be expected before 2020.
2. Non-strategic nuclear weapons
Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has significantly reduced its arsenal of non-strategic nuclear weapons. As emphasized in the new US nuclear doctrine, today the United States maintains " only a limited number of forward-based nuclear weapons in Europe, as well as a small number in stockpiles in the United States, ready for global deployment in support of extended deterrence for allies and partners».
As of January 2011, the United States had approximately 500 operational non-strategic nuclear warheads. Among them are 400 V61 free-fall bombs of several modifications with variable yield (from 0.3 to 345 kt) and 100 warheads W80-O of variable yield (from 3 to 200 kt) for long-range sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) (up to 2,600 km) "Tomahawk" (TLAM / N), adopted in 1984
Approximately half of the above bombs are deployed at six American air bases in five NATO countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. In addition, some 800 non-strategic nuclear warheads, including 190 W80-O warheads, are inactive in reserve.
Nuclear-certified American F-15 and F-16 fighter-bombers, as well as aircraft of US NATO allies, can be used as carriers of nuclear bombs. Among the latter are Belgian and Dutch F-16 aircraft and German and Italian Tornado aircraft.
Nuclear SLCM "Tomahawk" are designed to arm multi-purpose nuclear submarines (NPS) and some types of surface ships. At the beginning of 2011, the US Navy had 320 missiles of this type in service. All of them are stored in the arsenals of naval bases on the continental United States in 24-36 hours ready for loading on nuclear submarines and surface ships, as well as transports of special munitions, including transport aircraft.
As for the prospects for American NSNW, the new US nuclear doctrine concluded that the following measures should be taken:
- it is necessary to keep the “dual-purpose” fighter-bomber (that is, capable of using both conventional and nuclear weapons) in service with the Air Force after replacing the existing F-15 and F-16 aircraft with the F-35 general attack aircraft;
— to continue the full implementation of the Life Extension Program for the B61 nuclear bomb to ensure its compatibility with the F-35 aircraft and to improve its operational safety, security from unauthorized access and control of use in order to increase its credibility;
- decommission the nuclear SLCM "Tomahawk" (this system is recognized as redundant in the US nuclear arsenal, besides, it has not been deployed since 1992).
3. Nuclear reductions in the future
The new US nuclear doctrine states that the President of the United States has ordered a review of possible future reductions in US strategic nuclear weapons below the levels established by the START-3 Treaty. It is emphasized that several factors will influence the scale and pace of subsequent reductions in US nuclear arsenals.
First of all"Any future cuts should strengthen the deterrence of potential regional adversaries, strategic stability with Russia and China, and reaffirm US security assurances to allies and partners."
Secondly, “implementation of the “Nuclear Arsenal Readiness Maintenance” program and the financing of nuclear infrastructure recommended by the US Congress (more than 80 billion dollars are provided for this - V.E.) will allow the United States to abandon the practice of keeping a large number of non-deployed nuclear warheads in reserve in case of technical or geopolitical surprises and thereby significantly reduce the nuclear arsenal.”
Thirdly, "Russia's nuclear forces will remain a significant factor in determining how much and how quickly the United States is willing to further reduce its nuclear forces."
With this in mind, the US administration will seek discussions with Russia on further reductions in nuclear arsenals and increased transparency. It is argued that “this could be achieved through formal agreements and/or through parallel voluntary measures. Subsequent reductions should be larger in scale than provided for by previous bilateral agreements, extending to all nuclear weapons of both states, and not just to deployed strategic nuclear weapons.
Assessing these intentions of Washington, it should be noted that they practically do not take into account Moscow's concerns caused by:
- the deployment of the American global missile defense system, which in the future can weaken the deterrence potential of Russia's strategic nuclear forces;
- the vast superiority of the US and its allies in conventional military forces, which may further increase with the adoption of the developed American long-range precision weapons systems;
- the unwillingness of the United States to support the draft treaty banning the placement of any types of weapons in outer space, submitted by Russia and China for consideration by the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva in 2008.
Without finding mutually acceptable solutions to these problems, Washington is unlikely to be able to persuade Moscow to new negotiations on further reductions in nuclear arsenals.
/V.I. Esin, Ph.D., Leading Researcher, Center for Military Industrial Policy Problems, Institute for the USA and Canada, Russian Academy of Sciences, www.rusus.ru/
World leaders in October 2018 managed to inflame the international political situation to the limit. First, Donald Trump remembered US nuclear weapons and said that the country could withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which was signed by Gorbachev and Reagan in 1987. This treaty regulated the elimination of a whole class of weapons intended, including including, for the delivery of nuclear warheads to the territory of the main conditional opponents of that time.
What did Putin say about nuclear war?
And after Trump expressed the opinion that the United States could reconsider its participation in the treaty, Vladimir Putin without thinking twice expressed his vision of this issue, which is best quoted:
“The aggressor must know that retribution is inevitable, that he will be destroyed. And we are a victim of aggression. We, as martyrs, will go to heaven. And they just die. Because they won’t even have time to repent”
These words reverberated across the planet like lightning, bringing peace back to the days of the Cold War, when the major superpowers regularly flexed their muscles and threatened to use nuclear weapons. It seemed to many that these times were long gone, because after the signing of the INF Treaty, Russia and the United States, in fact, lost the opportunity to launch a nuclear strike without harming the other side. To do this, it is necessary that missiles with nuclear charges have a minimum flight time, and this can only be achieved with the help of medium and short-range missiles. Despite the fact that, under the terms of the treaty, such missiles should have been completely destroyed almost 30 years ago, today not only these two superpowers, but also many others have them. The United States was especially successful in this, where, apparently, they were not going to curtail engineering and design work on the production of this type of weapon.
What nuclear weapons does the US have
The United States, as a pioneer country in terms of creating nuclear weapons, today has the most impressive potential of this deadly type of weapon. But you need to understand that the nuclear bomb itself and the means of its delivery, i.e. rocket is not the same thing. Therefore, even despite the large number of US-made nuclear weapons, the potential for their use remains limited by the delivery vehicles on which they can be placed.
Generally speaking, today the United States has:
Total nuclear charges - 1481 units, including:
- for intercontinental ballistic missiles and aircraft - 481 units;
- for submarines - 920 units.
Total nuclear charge carriers - 741 units, including:
- intercontinental ballistic missiles - 431 units;
- submarines capable of carrying ballistic missiles - 59 units;
- strategic bombers - 80 units.
US nuclear weapons are geographically distributed throughout the world. A significant part of the US nuclear arsenal is located in Europe and Turkey. Submarines with nuclear missiles ply the waters of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. And, of course, on the North American continent itself there are dozens of places where nuclear weapons are concentrated, some of which do not look like military installations.
As you know, in 1963 and 1966. treaties were signed that introduced a ban on nuclear testing in the United States, the USSR and other countries. The superpowers constantly increased the power of exploding nuclear bombs, and when in 1961 the 50-megaton Tsar Bomba was tested in the USSR, the explosion of which was recorded by sensors all over the planet, many thought that the end of the world was already close. As a result of the signing of the 1966 treaty, countries lost the opportunity to test the types of nuclear weapons they produce, although some states did not join it for a long time. In 2015, when the United States needed to test the latest modification of the latest B61 atomic bomb, a variant of the rocket without a warhead was used for this. In addition, all nuclear tests in the US are simulated on a supercomputer.
Is the US preparing for a nuclear war with Russia?
Whether it is possible to use nuclear weapons in the near future, we already spoke when we discussed the prospects for an offensive. We repeat that from the point of view of the interests of those in power, such a conflict is unlikely in the coming years, because no one wants to cut the branch on which he “lives”, i.e. destroy their own planet, where people like Trump or Putin feel like masters. Even if we assume that the United States will develop an ultra-fast and targeted version of a nuclear attack on Russia, this will inevitably cause a backlash, similar to the one that Putin spoke about in the words already mentioned above. Yes, and if you look at the policy of the Russian president with an open mind, you can understand that he is closely, and in fact plays with her on the same side.
Therefore, all the words about withdrawal from the missile treaty, the use of nuclear weapons or martyrdom are just ostentatious bravado, designed to once again exacerbate the world political confrontation and make people live in constant fear of the future. We have already mentioned that he is a man put at the head of the United States in order to rock the boat of world politics and economics, and ideally turn everything upside down. And so far he has been successful in doing this, because if this continues, the world will slide into the abyss of global chaos by the beginning of next year.
Economist, analyst. He studied at a special gymnasium, then at the Donetsk National
University of Economics and Trade with a degree in Finance. Graduated from magistracy and
graduate school, after which he worked for several years as a researcher in one of the
institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. At the same time, I received a second
higher education in the specialty "Philosophy and Religious Studies". Prepared for
PhD thesis in economics. I write scientific and journalistic articles with
2010. I am fond of economics, politics, science, religion and many others.
| US nuclear weapons | |
|---|---|
| Story | |
| Beginning of the nuclear program | October 21, 1939 |
| First test | July 16, 1945 |
| First thermonuclear explosion | November 1, 1952 |
| September 23, 1992 | Last test |
| The most powerful explosion | 15 megatons (March 1, 1954) |
| Total tests | 1054 explosions |
| Maximum warheads | 66500 warheads (1967) |
| Current number of warheads | 1350 on 652 deployed carriers. |
| Max. delivery distance | 13,000 km/8100 miles (ICBM) 12,000 km/7,500 miles (SLBM) |
| Member of the NPT | Yes (since 1968, one of 5 parties allowed to possess nuclear weapons) |
Since 1945, the US has produced 66,500 atomic bombs and nuclear warheads. This assessment was made by the director of the nuclear information program at the Federation of American Scientists, Hans Christensen, and his colleague from the Natural Resources Defense Council, Robert Norris, in the Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists in 2009.
In two government laboratories - in Los Alamos and Livermore them. Lawrence - since 1945, a total of about 100 different types of nuclear charges and their modifications have been created.
Story
The very first atomic bombs, which entered service in the late 40s of the last century, weighed about 9 tons and could only be delivered to potential targets by heavy bombers.
By the early 1950s, more compact bombs with a lower weight and diameter were developed in the United States, which made it possible to equip US front-line aircraft with them. Somewhat later, nuclear charges for ballistic missiles, artillery shells and mines entered service with the Ground Forces. The Air Force received warheads for surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. A number of warheads have been created for the Navy and Marine Corps. Naval sabotage units - SEALs received light nuclear mines for special missions.
carriers
The composition of US nuclear weapons carriers and their jurisdiction have changed since the appearance of the first atomic bombs in service with the US Army Aviation. At different times, the Army (intermediate-range ballistic missiles, nuclear artillery and nuclear infantry munitions), the Navy (missile carriers and nuclear submarines carrying cruise and ballistic missiles), the Air Force had their own nuclear arsenal and means of its delivery. forces (intercontinental ballistic missiles of ground, mine and bunker-based, bottom-based, combat railway missile systems, air-launched cruise missiles, guided and unguided aircraft missiles, strategic bombers and missile-carrying aircraft). As of the beginning of 1983, offensive weapons in the US nuclear arsenal were represented by 54 Titan-2 ICBMs, 450 Minuteman-2 ICBMs, 550 Minuteman-3 ICBMs, 100 Peekeper ICBMs, about 350 Stratofortress strategic bombers " and 40 APRK with various types of SLBMs on board.
The Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command manages ground and air delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons. Maritime delivery vehicles are operated by the Fleet Forces Command (Navy Kings Bay - 16th Submarine Squadron) and the Pacific Fleet (Naval Kitsap - 17th Submarine Squadron). Collectively, they report to Strategic Command.
Megatonnage
Since 1945, the total yield of nuclear warheads has increased many times and peaked by 1960 - it amounted to over 20 thousand megatons, which is approximately equivalent to the yield of 1.36 million bombs dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945.
The largest number of warheads was in 1967 - about 32 thousand. Subsequently, the Pentagon's arsenal was reduced by almost 30% over the next 20 years.
At the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the US had 22,217 warheads.
Production
Production of new warheads ceased in 1991 although now [ when?] [ ] it is planned to resume. The military continues to modify the existing types of charges [ when?] [ ] .
The US Department of Energy is responsible for the entire production cycle - from the development of fissile weapons materials to the development and production of ammunition and their disposal.
Enterprises are managed