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To: Eyes Unclouded
Are you aware of how many nukes the Russians still have?

Are you? The Russian missile force went way down after the cold war. Right now they have 378 missiles in service.
58 silo-based R-36M2 (SS-18)
70 silo-based UR-100N (SS-19)
171 mobile RT-2PM "Topol" (SS-25)
52 silo-based RT-2UTTH "Topol M" (SS-27)
18 mobile RT-2UTTH "Topol M" (SS-27)
9 mobile RS-24
The SS-18, SS-19 and SS-25 are all due to be replace by 2019. So just to maintian current deterrent they need to build 214 missiles in the next seven years. They are currently deploying about three RS-24s a year. Notice a problem here.

In addition their SLBM fleet has decreased to a shadow of what it once was. And their new SLBM has blown up every time they tried to launch it.

Now remember they need to hold enough in reserve to take out our 450 LGM-30s and bomber bases or they don't survive our counter strike. They don't need that many missiles as the MIRVs will get multiple sites for every launcher. But considering that the SS-18s and SS-19s are described as having marginal readiness by Janes they are going to need to at least put two warheads from different launchers on each target.

The Russians are already short on missiles. They aren't able to produce enough to make up for loss due to age. And they want to add a bunch of new targets to the list. Well have at it.

Unless they figure the Tridents are going to slick them anyway and just decide to not bother with trying to prevent a US retaliatory strike. But if they are hell bent on suicide, why hit our ABMs in the first place?
22 posted on 11/23/2011 1:33:32 PM PST by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)
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To: GonzoGOP
"The Russians are already short on missiles. They aren't able to produce enough to make up for loss due to age."

VERY informative post! I was wondering what ticked the Ruskies off so bad. They, and their allies will be badly hamstrung by an advanced missile defense in Europe. It puts a big damper on Putin's aspiration of putting the empire back together and they'll have to compete on the global stage based on the merits of their products versus threats of annihilate.

72 posted on 11/30/2011 11:16:07 AM PST by uncommonsense (Conservatives believe what they see; Liberals see what they believe.)
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