According to the most recent START Treaty exchange data, on July 1, 2006 Russia had 760 strategic delivery platforms that could carry up to 3360 nuclear warheads. The change from January 2006 was mostly due to decomissioning of Topol/SS-25 missiles – the Strategic Rocket Forces continued to decommission missiles of the division in Yur’ya and began withdrawal of missiles from the divisions in Kansk and Irkutsk. The number of operational systems in the strategic fleet and the strategic aviation had not changed.
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Mr. Podvig,
I have noticed a discrepancy between the data you extracted from the January MoU and the current data. You had stated that there are 40 operational SS-18 missiles at Dombarovsky, yet you have now altered this information to 46 missiles. What new information triggered this change?
I see there is no new SS-27 missiles. But Russia has planned to buy 6 Topol M during this year. Will the plan be executed?
Anton, I also wonder why there is no new Topol-M? Are they planning to have new mobile Topol-M at the end of the year?
JC: It was my error - I misinterpreted Solovtsov's interview that he gave in January 2006. He said that there are 80 R-36MUTTH/R-36M2 missiles and I decided that it were the five missiles in Dombarovsky that had been withdrawn. Five missiles is an incomplete regiment, so I assumed that these missiles were being decommissioned. But I was wrong - that regiment is still there (as I understand, one of its silos is used for Dnepr launches).
One more thing: I would like to ask my readers no to use other people's names when they post comments. I understand that on the Internet no one should assume that you are indeed James Cartwright anyway (and I know that you are not posting from Omaha), but it's better not to create additional misunderstanding. Thank you.
Thank you for your explanation, Mr. Podvig.
Regarding my name, it is in fact James Carthwright (not Cartright) and I have no connections to either Omaha or USSTRATCOM. I used my full name in the belief that the difference between my surname and that of the STRATCOM CinC is sufficient to prevent confusion. Nevertheless, I will now use the screen name James C to abide by your request.
Pavel:
Where is the corresponding American START Treaty July 1, 2006 exchange data published? Thanks!
Frank Shuler
USA
Frank: State Department usually publishes a press release somewhere on its site.
Pavel, I already checked out the US State Department's site to no avail. I guess Arms Control Agreements are just passé and out of vogue today! It's just amazing to me how little public (US) interest there is in all this. If you run across the US MoU somewhere, please let me know. Thanks!
Frank Shuler
USA
I would try to contact the Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation. They have this information.
Thanks, Pavel!
Frank Shuler
USA