We have known for a while that Russia bought from Ukraine about 30 SS-19/UR-100NUTTH missiles, which it intends to keep in service (although there are some questions about continuing flight tests of the missile). But the exact number of these missiles has never been officially disclosed. It still hasn't, but we have an interesting data point - a report in the VPK newspaper mentions that in 2003 the Russian armed forces received 26 missiles of this type.
Update: As it turned out, there are some numbers on the Ukrainian missiles. It looks like 29 of them were transferred to Russia. Which already was three missiles fewer than Ukraine declared in START. Now, if we believe the VPK number (although, I must admit, there is no particular reason to), three more are unaccounted for.
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In the whole 4 less missiles practically doesn’t change the picture at all. Considering that they will be deployed around 2010, they will be the oldest missiles of the rocket forces. May be it will be better to deploy MIRV “land” Bulavas or MIRVing some Topol-M. It is just a matter of $$.
Ivanovs long rant today on state tv (yesterday Russia time), trying to defend his performance was quite entertaining. Did everyone catch it? He said 70% of the armed forces would be professional soon, even though just a week ago when he spoke to Putin he admitted only 60,000 or so Kontrakniki were in the ranks. Going from 60,000 to 70% in the timeframe he gave is basically impossible.
He also made a big deal about cutting the MoD by 35,000 men (and total staff by 200,000) by 2011, but at the rate whole air regiments are being cut this is not really a reform so much as what is inevitable when your air force is set to write off 2,000 aircraft in the next 5 years.
We are all too "little-brained" to fathom the great wisdom of our MoD chief.
"70% of the armed forces would be professional soon" and "60,000 or so Kontrakniki were in the ranks" literally mean that 70% equal to around 70,000, and the whole "future-Russian-invincible-professional-army" is gonna be somewhat 100,000 units.