Russian Armed Forces “completed exercises of the strategic nuclear forces”, according to a Kremlin news release. The test was specifically aimed at countering a pre-emptive nuclear strike by the United States and NATO. Pictured here: Mobile Topol intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking targets deep inside the United States.
On October 20, 2012, we reported that the Russian Armed Forces “completed exercises of the strategic nuclear forces”, according to a Kremlin news release. All this seem particularly relevant today with the situation in Ukraine and old tensions rising between the US and Russia.
President Vladimir Putin was said to have personally participated in “testing automated communication management system, new algorithms of managing strategic nuclear forces through practically accomplishing test tasks involving all of the nuclear forces’ components, namely long range aircraft, sea and land based nuclear systems. The strategic nuclear forces’ exercises of such scale were conducted for the first time in Russia. Vladimir Putin gave high assessment to the military units and teams and the General Staff of the Armed Forces, who all accomplished the tasks set and proved reliability and efficiency of Russian’s nuclear forces” (source: Russian strategic nuclear forces’ exercises http://eng.news.kremlin.ru/news/4543).
The release noted that the day before, the Russian Commander-in-Chief “examined strategic nuclear forces’ management and oversaw test launches of strategic and cruise missiles which reached set targets at various military testing grounds.”
Unconfirmed reports suggest the tests were designed to gauge Russia ability to respond quickly and decisively against a pre-emptive nuclear attack by the United States or NATO (“North Atlantic Treaty Organization”).
We reviewed this recently on rumors that the Kremlin was considering new readiness tests and asked the Pentagon on March 31, 2014 for comment in this matter – officials refused that request!
In nuclear strategy, a “first strike” is a preemptive surprise attack employing overwhelming force.
First strike capability is a country’s ability to defeat another nuclear power by destroying its arsenal to the point where the attacking country can survive the weakened retaliation while the opposing side is left unable to continue war.
The preferred methodology is to attack the opponent’s launch facilities and storage depots first.
The strategy is called counter-force.
See related article: Russia reserves the right to respond with nuclear weapons if attacked. Read more here: https://groundreport.com/russia-reserves-the-right-to-respond-with-nuclear-weapons-if-attacked/