Defense

Russia successfully stepping up nuclear triad modernization – Defense Minister Shoigu

Russia has stepped up the combat potential of its ‘nuclear triad,’ which is now 60 percent equipped with modern weapons, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Wednesday.

The nuclear triad is the common name for the most widespread means of delivery of nuclear charges – strategic aircraft, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarines capable of carrying nuclear-tipped missiles.  

Speaking at a session of the Defense Ministry’s collegium, Shoigu also said that 99 percent of all launchers that belong to Russian Strategic Missile Forces were in full combat readiness, with 96 percent ready to conduct actual combat launch at any time. 

The Russian defense chief told senior ministry officials that President Vladimir Putin had approved how military forces have carried out the re-armament program, and had ordered for re-armament to be maintained at the current fast rate.

He also said that Russian military forces stationed in Crimea and the Arctic would be equipped with cutting-edge weapons and equipment in the nearest future.