Medvedev threatens to target U.S. missile shield in Europe if no deal is reached

washingtonpost ^ | November 23, 2011 | Will Englund and William Wan

[kronos77]

MOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday that Russia will target the American missile defense system in Europe with its own missiles if Moscow cannot reach an agreement with Washington and NATO on how the system will be built and operated.

Medvedev said time hasn’t run out for an agreement, but he accused the United States of failing to take into account Russian concerns.

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Russia will deploy new missiles aimed at U.S. missile defense sites in Europe if Washington goes ahead with the planned shield despite Russia's concerns, President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday. (Nov. 23)

His declaration, in a televised address, comes a year after he met with the heads of NATO states in Lisbon and said Russia was willing to consider joining in on missile defense, if it could be included as an equal partner.

[kronos77]

But if they want us to cooperate (or, let’s face it, simply work) to the detriment of our own interest, we won’t be able to find common ground. And then we will have to respond differently. Our actions will depend on the actual developments, as the US plan is implemented stage by stage.

Because of that, I have taken the following decisions:

First, I have instructed the Defense Ministry to immediately activate an early warning radar in Kaliningrad.

Second, as part of the Russian aerospace defense program, Russia will urgently strengthen its defensive capabilities for Strategic Nuclear Forces installations.

Third, strategic ballistic missiles coming into the arsenals of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces and the Navy will be fitted with advanced missile defense penetration systems and the latest effective warheads.

Fourth, I have ordered the Armed Forces to develop a set of measures that will enable Russia, if necessary, to destroy the data exchange and control centers of the missile defense system. These measures are adequate, effective and cost-efficient.

Fifth, if the aforementioned measures prove to be insufficient, the Russian Federation will deploy, along its western and southern borders, advanced offensive systems capable of destroying the European component of the missile defense system. This will include deploying Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad. Other measures aimed at neutralizing the European component of the US missile defense system will also be prepared and implemented if necessary.

Next, if problems persist, Russia reserves the right to refrain from taking further steps as regards disarmament and arms control. Furthermore, considering that strategic offensive and defensive weapons are closely interrelated, Russia may have sufficient grounds to withdraw from the New START Treaty. Such a possibility is envisaged in the very idea of this treaty.

Nevertheless, I would like to stress once again that the door for further dialogue on missile defense with the United States and NATO and for practical cooperation in this area remains open. We are ready for that. However, before we start working, we need a clear legal framework for our cooperation. This framework should take account of our legitimate interests. We are open to dialogue, and we expect our Western partners to take a reasonable and constructive approach.”

[GonzoGOP]

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?

[Greysard]

Every missile fired at a missile defense station is one that cannot hit a more valuable target.

Those are different missiles. You don't need an ICBM with a MIRV to take a missile base out. That's what short- and medium-range missiles are for. Russia has those, and they don't have any better use for them anyway. The missile has CEP of 5-7 meters which makes conventional warheads sufficient; but of course Russia has nuclear warheads for those missiles as well.

And since they are by their nature the best defended places, you are going to need a bunch of missiles to take them out.

It may be difficult to attack those sites with infantry. However a mere 100 kT nuclear blast will ruin the whole day on any missile base. The radar site in the Czech Republic is a sitting duck; you can't put those antennas underground.

Because fake missile sites are cheap as heck but you can't take the chance of missing one so you need to hammer them all.

Actually missile sites are very expensive to build, and since Russia has spy satellites it can easily detect how much construction was done on this or that site. And even that is needed only if Russia has no spies in its backyard and doesn't have a clue what's up.

Also missiles are easy to retarget, so you never know which bases will be attacked. Missiles themselves are dirt cheap as missiles go. It's largely a fuel tank, some servos and some electronics. There is nothing inherently expensive once the R&D is done. The nuclear warhead would be the most expensive part.

However, all that said, I believe these missiles serve as blackmail of hosting nations. Medvedev essentially says that European countries who host those bases are now targeted, and who knows, perhaps a missile or two, assembled by a drunken worker, will deviate from the course and end up striking Warszaw or Prague. So choose your friends wisely.

[Army Air Corps]

First, I have instructed the Defense Ministry to immediately activate an early warning radar in Kaliningrad.

Whoopty-do. They'll activate an early warning radar for what? To detect the launch of an ABM that would only be launched in the event of an inbound ICBM headed for Europe? Also, am I expected to believe that these radars are not active all the time anyway as part of Russia's defense system?

[PhilDragoo]

Is this Medvedev trying to be more macho than Putin.

It has the appearance of the Kabuki theater.

The big mask muffles the words and we can't see the facial expressions.

Obama has been a good little doormat for Putin to wipe his custom shoes on.

Obama has scrapped programs and cut defense, so Medvedev should be saying, "Good doggie."

A sane analysis shows such missile defense by U.S. is solely against the little Rat Boy in Tehran who continually screams, "I am short but I have a big missile Viagara."

Does Medvedev think he will intimidate Obama or Hillary or Panetta? These are apparatchiks pining for the Mao plan.

Is Medvedev playing to the nationalism? It is not arguable.

Do we not know of Yamantau Mountain and how Medvedev will ride the subway there while his people die?

Just what America needs right now is more heated rhetoric, right? No.

Russia has problems: alcoholism, birthrate, pressure from China in the East, and loss of China arms deals.

There is zero democracy and one hundred per cent corruption.

So let Medvedev bang his shoe. He will have to put it back on to walk to his limo.

Ah, the nostalgia of still being regarded as the war-mongering imperialist.

Ракетные Войска Стратегического Назначения: Russia's Strategic Missile Forces

[unkus]

I understood every word./s

[American in Israel]

How about America Vows to target all large Russian Cities in return.

[American in Israel]

Fifth, if the aforementioned measures prove to be insufficient...

It better be sufficient Vlad, cause at that point there will be no sixth. At that point the esclation has reached bend over and kiss your a@@ time cause the return fire is landing in 5 4 3 2...

[Michael Barnes]

I do believe they have quite a bit still left over. Question is, did they have the capital and resources to keep them all operational? There is A LOT of upkeep to Nuke weapons.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Just the Russkies being Russkies. They have to sabre rattle now and again to keep the Russian public’s mind off not enough heat in their apts and highways you can only drive on in the dry season and Putin looting the public trust.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Suck it, Med. Zero will probably capitulate, though. He’s only tough on allies and Americans.

[1rudeboy]

I’ve been told by the free trade crowd, Communist China is our good friend. Isn’t Russia our friend too?

How many voices do you normally hear in your head? Isn't a "crowd" rather annoying?

[dragnet2]

It rudeboy! Hi rudeboy...How yankee doing...You shop for turkey yet...haha...you buy turkey at chinamart...make you happy...haha, make you proud rudeboy...You go shop now rudeboy...you pickup some tainted poon jab doggie yum yums to.....hahh...bye bye now

[1rudeboy]

This thread isn’t about China, although I can see why you want to make it so. Are you posting from the Kremlin?

[Revolting cat!]

Me rove yu rong time, dlagnettoo!

[GonzoGOP]

Missiles themselves are dirt cheap as missiles go. It's largely a fuel tank, some servos and some electronics. There is nothing inherently expensive once the R&D is done. The nuclear warhead would be the most expensive part.

Dude you seriously need to get a clue where it comes to missile cost.

First off there would only be a fuel tank in a very old missile. These days if it isn't solid fuel it is going to die on the launch pad. The liquids just take too long to ready for launch.

Solid fuel rockets are not cheap. For the LGM-118s the price tag was around $70 million a pop in 1986 dollars. The Russians aren't saying what the new RS-24 costs them, but considering they can only afford to buy three a year dirt cheap probably isn't the answer.

They had to retire all their IRBMs as part of the treaty that got rid of our Pershing IIs so they don't have any of those. They have a bunch of Iskander-M missiles. Those only have a 400km range which puts them on the wrong side of Belarus and Ukraine. Belarus may let them in, but would Belarus let Russia launch a nuclear war from their territory?

Finally there is the problem that they are in fact Anti ballistic missile sites. Attacking them with ballistic missiles is like attacking a mousetrap factory with mice. The Iskander only has a speed of 2600 m/s. Against an ABM system that has been able to repeatedly shoot down LGM-30s at 7000 km/s it would be like shooting fish in a barrel. They Russians say they can make all kinds of evasive moves, but it is still a rather slow ballistic missile. You are going to have to send a lot if you expect one to get through.

[itsahoot]

Can’t be because none of our missiles are targeted anymore, we are being nice, what else can we do?

[NonValueAdded]

Target? target how? Like it isn't already dialed into their first strike plans? What are they going to do, attack us if we launch against an Iranian ICBM?

Not exactly an empty threat by the Russkies but an irrelevant one since defensive planning needs to assume the defensive systems are targeted.

[StAnDeliver]

Bla bla bla. So 1975. Douchebag Kabuki Theater, in Cyrillic. They ought to shoot one off under his nose just for kicks.

[Daffynition]

Ping me when we should start taking this clown seriously.