START treaty data released this week show that Russia continues to eliminate old strategic delivery systems - in January 2009 the Russian strategic forces had 634 strategic delivery platforms, which can carry up to 2825 nuclear warheads. A year ago Russia was estimated to have 702 delivery vehicles and 3155 nuclear warheads.

The Strategic Rocket Forces continued elimination of R-36MUTTH/SS-18, UR-100NUTTH/SS-19 and Topol/SS-25 missiles - the number of deployed missiles was reduced to 68, 72 and 180 respectively (from 75, 110, and 213 in January 2008). The number of new Topol-M/SS-27 missiles increased to 65 from 54 a year ago. This means that Russia has 385 operational missile systems of four different types, which could carry 1357 warheads - down from 452 missiles and 1677 warheads a year ago.

One of the Project 667BDR/Delta III submarines - K-496 Borisoglebsk - has been removed from service and sent for dismantlement in December 2008. With a transfer of another Project 667BDR submarine - K-44 Ryazan - to the Pacific in 2008, all submarines of this class are now based in Kamchatka. Overall, Russia is estimated to have 13 submarines. It lists 172 deployed SLBMs - 76 R-29R and 96 R-29RM - that can carry 612 warheads. The number of warheads on SLBMs actually increased from 606 last year - mostly because of continuing deployment of R-29RM Sineva missiles that compensated for removal of some R-29R missiles.

According to the treaty data, Russia has removed from service one of its Tu-95MS bombers - it now lists 63 strategic bombers of this type. One Tu-160 bomber (presumably the one that entered service in April 2008) is now listed as a test bomber. As a result, the MOU states that Russia has only 14 deployed bombers of this class. The 77 bombers Russia is listed as having can carry up to 856 nuclear cruise missiles - a slight decrease from 872 missiles last year.