Putin: Russia Building Nuclear Weapon U.S. Won't Have

netscape.cnn.com ^ | Nov. 17, 2004 | netscape.cnn.com

[crushelits]

Russia Developing New Nuclear Missile.

MOSCOW (AP) - President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia is developing a new form of nuclear missile unlike those held by other countries, news agencies reported. Speaking at a meeting of the Armed Forces' leadership, Putin reportedly said that Russia is researching and successfully testing new nuclear missile systems. ``I am sure that ... they will be put in service within the next few years and, what is more, they will be developments of the kind that other nuclear powers do not and will not have,'' Putin was quoted as saying by the ITAR-Tass news agency.

Putin reportedly said: ``International terrorism is one of the major threats for Russia. We understand as soon as we ignore such components of our defense as a nuclear and missile shield, other threats may occur.'' No details were immediately available, but Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said earlier this month that Russia expected to test-fire a mobile version of its Topol-M ballistic missile this year and that production of the new weapon could be commissioned in 2005. continues...

[jb6]

Especially after Klintune gave away all US nuke knowledge to them.

[Heavyrunner]

I don't have faith in technology at all. I believe ICBM's will eventually -- Meaning within the next 20 years, be rendered obsolete except by seaborne very-short-notice platforms like "boomer" submarines.

A far larger threat exists in the much less attention-getting forms of delivery, such as a merchant ship pulling into port with a nuke in its hold, or one being smuggled in with a shipment of coffee beans from South America.

[July 4th]

Aren't the MIRVs being completely phased out? I thought that was a requirement of recent reduction treaties.

[July 4th]

I wonder if their comments were intended to cover the ABL and other laser systems as well.

[Armedanddangerous]

Well that was my understanding also, but who knows?

[Magnum44]

Two schools of thought here:

1) Russia, aka former USSR, has since WWII relied on its strategic rocket forces (read nuclear) for its homeland defense. In many ways its an archaic philosophy, particular in light of the WOT we both are waging. But their strategic rocket forces really are the most powerful arm of their armed forces, and like all govt bureaucracies, the have and want to hold on to power, funds, and influence. That they are putting huge sums of money here reflects, not priorities as we would see them, but power and influence struggles within their own military.

2) You do have to admit that most of the old strategic rocket forces they have are in a sad state, and to be an effective deterrent, need an upgrade. So it makes sense to make improvements when you upgrade. I think the talk of radical upgrade is mostly hot air to placate those who would divert development funds elsewhere.

As usual, I am merely putting this in perspective, not taking their side.

[JonDavid]

Star Wars will make missiles obsolete. This move by the Russians is either desperation or a first strike against US before star wars becomes fully operational. By the way the Soviets, I mean Russians, named their most lethal ICBM Satan.

[diamond6]

"...we can rest assured measures will be taken to minimize it."

That is, if we have a responsible person in office, and good common sense people in the house and senate.

[Delbert]

It doesnt look very big.

[Polybius]

Lots of people think Russia is no longer a threat to the US. In my mind Russia wouldn't be doing this unless she plans on using it against us one day.

......or wants to ensure that Red China does not look hungrily at Russia's under-populated territory.

[JonDavid]

From July 4th:

Aren't the MIRVs being completely phased out? I thought that was a requirement of recent reduction treaties.


Lets all welcome Madeline Albright to the forum.

[dljordan]

But, but, the cold war is over! The Russians are our friends now. That's why we have ex-KGB generals advising Homeland Security!

[truthandlife]

I believe Putin knows that our missile defense shield will give us the upper hand and he is trying to anything for the U.S. not to implement it. I think this is all hype from Putin.

[Henchman]

Don't worry, the Russians will deliver the missle here. we can study it on the way in.

[JonDavid]

China & Russia just before 9/11 signed a military alliance. Sure OBL is our enemy. But who do you think supports him? Remember, nation states have always use surrogates to fight for them. Some may say why would Russia align with Islamic Fascists against the United States? The old saying an enemy of my enemy is my friend applies here. In fact, the Russians formed & trained most of the terrorist organization operating in the world today.

[Smokin' Joe]

3 on the minuteman III, but I think the trident and MX can carry 10. I may be wrong, though.

[Polybius]

China & Russia just before 9/11 signed a military alliance.

August 23, 1939: Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov and German Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact

[July 4th]

Well, pardon me for bringing up facts.

With the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) II in January 1993, Peacekeeper became a dead program. START II demanded the removal of all MIRV ICBMs, and it is currently planned to phase out all LGM-118A missiles until 2004. After that date, the LGM-30 Minuteman will remain the only U.S. land-based ICBM. When production was completed, about 100 LGM-118A missiles had been built.

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-118.html

[Mogollon]

Ten warhead missle, apparently. That is a continent buster

We already have this, it's called MIRV.

[jeremiah]

Isn't it time we uncorked the technology and made some neutron bombs. They would come in really handy to avoid hand to hand fighting, or door to door anyway. We could have cleared Fallujah without losing a single soldier. Just tell those within to surrender or die, kill all within without ruining the holy sites.