Home Encyclopedia Dictionaries More details

Strategic weapons

Totality various types weapons, special information management and support technical means designed to solve strategic problems in war. The basis of modern S.v. constitutes a nuclear weapon. Sometimes to the N.V. include and precision weapons in conventional equipment, used to destroy strategically important enemy targets. As prescribed by S.v. It is customary to divide them into strategic offensive (strike) and strategic defensive weapons, as well as information and control components. Strategic offensive weapons (START) include ground-based systems of intercontinental ballistic missiles(ICBMs), strategic nuclear-powered missile submarines (SSBNs) and strategic (heavy) bombers (TB) equipped with air-to-surface strategic cruise missiles and aerial bombs.

Strategic defensive weapons include complexes and systems missile defense, air defense, anti-submarine defense and missile and space defense, designed to destroy strategic missiles the enemy and their bases. Information and control components ( technical systems and means of controlling weapons and troops), forming the necessary functional connections and structure of the strategic warfare system, ensuring their use according to plans and options in accordance with the developing situation, as well as the necessary interaction of troops (forces) during the use of strategic offensive and defensive weapons. To the information and control components of S.v. include a combat control and communications system, an information and calculation system, a warning system for enemy missile attacks, a space and air space control system, space system intelligence, etc.

To the first S.v. may include German V-1 and V-2 missiles (according to some military experts) and American B-29 bombers with atomic bombs, used in World War 2. After its completion, intensive work began in the USSR, USA and other countries to create various types of synthetic chemicals. The main focus was the development of guided missiles various types and purpose, especially guided ballistic missiles long range(up to intercontinental) land and sea based, which form the basis of the strategic offensive forces of the Russian Federation, the USA, Great Britain, France and China. The appearance of S.v. (first of all, rocket- nuclear weapons) made significant changes in the organization of troops, in views on the nature and content of the preparation and conduct of military operations and war in general. Moreover, views on the very possibility of conducting nuclear war were diametrically opposed: from recognizing the possibility of the warring parties exchanging massive nuclear missile strikes to denying the possibility of even a limited use of nuclear weapons due to the unpredictability of the consequences. Aware catastrophic consequences nuclear war, the USSR (and later the Russian Federation) and the United States in the early 70s of the last century began to limit, and subsequently reduce, strategic warfare, leaving behind them only the function of strategic containment.

STRATEGIC WEAPONS

STRATEGIC WEAPONS

(strategic weapons) In military terminology, the word "strategic" refers to the general plan of battle, "tactical" to the smaller issues of combat. During the period cold war"(Cold War) the expression "strategic weapons" in the language of America and NATO (NATO) meant intercontinental nuclear weapons capable of covering the distance between the USA and the USSR. It was opposed to tactical nuclear weapons (or theater weapons), average range whose actions were limited to the territory of Europe, as well as short-range nuclear weapons. These differences reflected mainly the position of the Americans, who wanted to know which weapons were capable of hitting the United States and which were effective within Europe. Outside this context, the distinction between “strategic” and “tactical” becomes meaningless, which even led to problems in arms control negotiations when the USSR considered medium-range nuclear weapons stationed in Europe and capable of reaching its territory as “strategic” ".

Policy. Dictionary. - M.: "INFRA-M", Publishing House "Ves Mir". D. Underhill, S. Barrett, P. Burnell, P. Burnham, etc. General editor: Doctor of Economics. Osadchaya I.M.. 2001 .

Political science. Dictionary. - RSU. V.N. Konovalov. 2010.

See what "STRATEGIC WEAPONS" is in other dictionaries:

USSTRATCOM Emblem of Strategic Command Years of existence ... Wikipedia

A type of weapon in which nuclear weapons are the means of destruction and missiles are the means of delivery. Divided into strategic, operational tactical and tactical; ground, air and sea based. Strategic. O.r.i.. how...

Weapon- automatic: 1 self-loading sniper rifle Dragunov system model 1963 (SVD); 2 single Kalashnikov machine gun model 1961 (PKM); 3 self-loading pistol Makarov systems model 1951 (PM); 4 Kalashnikov assault rifle model... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Weapons (military), common name devices and tools used in armed struggle to destroy enemy manpower, equipment and structures. O.'s development depends on the method of production and especially on the level of development of productive forces.... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Weapon mass destruction By type... Wikipedia

WEAPON. There are weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, bacteriological) and conventional weapons; strategic, operational tactical and tactical weapon. In most countries, legislation regulates the wearing, storage,... ... Modern encyclopedia

The general name for devices and means used to destroy enemy personnel, equipment and structures. There are weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, bacteriological) and conventional weapons; strategic, operational... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (obsolete atomic weapons) a type of explosive weapon of mass destruction based on the use of intranuclear energy released during chain reactions of heavy nuclei of certain isotopes of uranium and plutonium or during the fusion reaction of light... Dictionary of emergency situations

I; Wed 1. A weapon for attack or defense. Own a weapon. Threaten someone with a weapon. Store, clean o. Apply o. Supply o. Take hold of Fr. Get something with a weapon. Defend with weapons in hands or something. Personal, personal o. Ancient o. Fold o... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

NUCLEAR WEAPONS (NW)- the main type of explosive weapon of mass destruction; is based on the use of intranuclear energy released as a result of a chain reaction of fission of heavy uranium nuclei (plutonium) or the synthesis of light nuclei of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and... War and peace in terms and definitions

Books

• Strategic weapons of the future, Kardashev Mikhail Arutyunovich. The book provides detailed information about air-to-surface missiles (ASBMs). For the first time, systematized data on the development of ASBMs in the USSR, USA and other countries have been reviewed. Including…

Currently, it represents a formidable force that allows for a preventive strike against an alleged aggressor who is encroaching on the territorial integrity of the country.

Why are nuclear weapons needed?

Both individual states and various military blocs/alliances pursuing negative policies towards the country can be considered aggressors. It is worth noting that today Russia’s nuclear weapons play not an active, but a passive role. That is, first of all, its purpose is to strategically deter a potential enemy. The use of nuclear weapons is not an end in itself. It is undesirable for any country, since the use of such weapons inevitably entails negative consequences For environment and the earth's atmosphere.

Russia's nuclear weapons date back to the times Soviet Union, and its most active development began when the arms race began in the Cold War. As you know, several projects for weapons of mass destruction were developed then, which eventually grew into nuclear deterrence systems that we see today.

For some time, the foreign publishing house The National Interest presented a list containing the most promising and dangerous Russian nuclear weapons for a potential enemy.

History of the creation of nuclear weapons

The very first work related to the physics of the atomic nucleus began in the 20s (in the Soviet Union). In the 30s there was already noticeable work in that area more Research Institute The year 1940 was marked by the phenomenon of nuclear fission. After this event, the USSR Academy of Sciences created a special commission that worked on the problem of uranium. Her tasks included full coordination of ongoing research regarding the study of the principle of fission of atomic nuclei. In addition, the commission also had to look for new methods for separating uranium isotopes.

It is worth noting that already at that time the principle of chain nuclear reaction was considered in the light of military applications, but work in this area was, for the most part, an ordinary research program. The end of the Great Patriotic War became the temporary boundary that put an end to approximately 75% of research in the field of nuclear physics.

When did the practical program for equipping military nuclear weapons begin?

This project involved studying the effects of nuclear decay for military purposes. It was officially started in 1943. The reason for this was information that reached the Soviet leadership. They said that the United States and Great Britain had launched work on the development of nuclear weapons. Of course, the Soviet government could not allow such weapons to appear in a power close in influence to the Soviets. Thus, in April of the same year, the first laboratory was formed, which began to study methods for producing plutonium in heavy water reactors. Its tasks also include studying the separation of uranium isotopes. It is worth noting that the course of study did not involve the creation of a nuclear explosive device as the main task.

What influenced the acceleration of work on the creation of nuclear weapons?

The situation changes radically in 1945, when the United States conducts its first nuclear weapons test on July 16. On August 6th and then 9th, the US military bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. All these events lead to stimulation of the work of Soviet specialists in the development of the nuclear program. It is undergoing significant changes, which are being carried out to ensure the creation of nuclear weapons in the shortest possible time. On August 20, another special committee is created, the purpose of which is to solve the atomic problem. It is designed to ensure coordination of work on the creation of nuclear weapons. The practical implementation of the program was assigned to the main department under the Council of Ministers.

When were the first nuclear weapons tests carried out in the USSR?

After the use of nuclear weapons by the United States, the pace of development of such weapons in the Soviet Union accelerated significantly. Thus, the experimental graphite reactor was launched in 1946, on October 25. And the work of the first industrial reactor began in 1948, or to be more precise, in June.

To produce a nuclear charge, plutonium was used, which was obtained in 1949. Works in the field of creation charger in design bureau No. 11 were already completed by that time. The first nuclear device was called “RDS-1”, and its test was carried out in 1949, on August 29. The object of the event was the Semipalatinsk test site. The calculated and practical power of the device coincided, which indicated the accuracy of the work. The power of the explosion was 22 kilotons.

Successfully conducted tests marked the beginning of mass production of nuclear warheads. The first experimental series, which at that time consisted of 5 devices, was ready by 1950. A year later, mass production was launched, which was based on the RDS-1 charge.

Organizing serial production of nuclear weapons was not the only task related to weapons of mass destruction at that time. At the same time, scenarios and methods of delivering a nuclear device to one point or another were thought through and worked out. In 1951, another one was produced nuclear tests, during which a device of exclusively Soviet design was blown up. At the same time, the Soviet armed forces carried out the first delivery of a nuclear device using a strategic bomber.

Modernization of nuclear weapons

The story does not end with the development of conventional nuclear weapons. In parallel with the serial production of nuclear elements, research institutes are working on their modification. For example, thermonuclear charges act as advanced weapons of mass destruction. The first of them is RDS-6. His tests took place on August 12, 1953. They showed that thermonuclear charges can generate explosions of much greater power. After successful testing, the institutes began developing methods for delivering RDS-6, as well as developing a two-stage thermonuclear device.

The 50s were marked by work not only on modifying nuclear weapons, but also on introducing them into various systems weapons. In addition, new systems were being developed that could become a method for delivering lethal devices. As the most a shining example You can cite intercontinental ballistic missiles. Considerable attention was paid to equipping the navy with nuclear weapons.

The first ICBM prototype was named “P-5M”. He entered the first units in 1956, in May of which combat duty already started. Regarding naval weapons, then nuclear equipment had three promising directions:

1. Creation of nuclear torpedoes.
2. Deployment of ballistic and cruise missiles on submarines.
3. Placing nuclear warheads on submarines.

Fleet armament nuclear torpedoes dates back to 1955. At the same time, the first successful launch of a ballistic missile mounted on a submarine was carried out.

About combat duty in Russia

Russia's tactical nuclear weapons require constant monitoring due to increased danger. That is why, as in the days of the Soviet Union, now military personnel of the Russian Armed Forces are on combat duty. They not only monitor the condition of devices, but are also ready to use it at any time.

Russia's tactical nuclear weapons are positioned as a deterrent against the use of aggression by a potential enemy. It consists of various nuclear complexes, nuclear weapons systems installed on combat crews navy, as well as intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear elements.

On the relevance of nuclear weapons

Currently, nuclear weapons of the United States and Russia are constantly compared by experts. This is happening due to growing tension between the two countries, which dates back to the time of the conflict in Ossetia. Events in Ukraine became a new round of tension in bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the United States, which caused an intensification of the arms race. Although the development has been going on for several years, a completely current example of the arms race can be called the T-14 tank on the Armata platform.

Although tensions between the EU countries, the US and the Russian Federation are escalating every month, options for Russia to use nuclear weapons are considered only as retaliatory steps taken in case of a violation (or attempted violation) territorial integrity countries.

On the deployment of nuclear weapons

As part of its sovereignty, any country that possesses nuclear weapons has the right to place them anywhere on state territory. In the case of the Russian Federation, this also applies to the Crimean peninsula. Russia's nuclear weapons were placed within military program recently there, which caused concern from the United States.

The Russian Defense Minister soon after noted that the Russian Federation reserves the right to deploy tactical nuclear weapons anywhere in the country (as is the case with Kaliningrad region). The leadership of the General Staff has also repeatedly stated that the use of nuclear weapons by Russia is possible exclusively for defensive and not offensive purposes.

On modern nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation

Russia's newest nuclear weapons include the Topol-M mobile and silo-based missile system. In addition, there are weapons located on land, sea and aviation mobile and static objects. Modern Russian nuclear weapons can be characterized as a set of weapons and their systems equipped with nuclear components and elements.

As an example of naval assets, one can cite the missile carriers “Borey”, “Akula”, “Dolphin” and “Squid”. Strategic aviation dealing with transportation nuclear devices defeat the enemy, consists of Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers.

Defense against nuclear weapons

Work in the military sphere, the purpose of which was to develop methods for using nuclear elements, also gave impetus to the development of systems capable of responding to the launch of weapons of mass destruction, as well as neutralizing them.

Radar stations are used to detect nuclear weapons and record the coordinates of their use, calculate the time of arrival of the deadly cargo, the flight path and other parameters. In case of danger, they will immediately transmit a signal to launch a missile attack. Space stations perform the same functions.

To destroy or neutralize nuclear carriers, there are missile and space defense troops, as well as missile defense forces. In some cases, this also includes air defense troops, whose tasks include the destruction of airborne delivery vehicles for nuclear devices.

One of the most promising strategic directions at present is Russian nuclear weapons. Photos of him are given in the article.

The aggravation of the political confrontation between Russia and the United States, which coincided with the active phase of renewal of the domestic nuclear triad, has intensified public interest in the strategic nuclear forces (SNF) of the leading powers. In the near future it will only warm up, as the American triad enters the renewal phase.

Nine countries possess nuclear weapons (nuclear weapons): the USA, Russia, Great Britain, France and China legally, and India, Israel, Pakistan and the DPRK illegally: the first three have not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), but North Korea came out of it. The arsenals of Russia and the United States, despite significant reductions, are overwhelmingly superior to the rest. When discussing the current and future nuclear arsenals of these countries, it is impossible not to briefly consider the terms of the START III treaty, since it largely determines their type.

The START-3 Treaty was signed in April 2010 and entered into force in February 2011. The current treaty is limited to February 2021, but it can be extended, by mutual agreement, for another five years. A cautious discussion of the prospects for treaties in the field of reduction of offensive weapons is underway, but it will be complicated by reasons of both a subjective (deterioration of relations) and objective nature - for example, further reductions increase the role of tactical nuclear weapons, on which there are no clear agreements, other countries of the nuclear club, which will have to involve in the negotiation process; The role of missile defense and promising non-nuclear high-precision weapons is increasing. On a positive note, the discussion on the extension current agreement START-3 has begun.

The goal of START-3 is to reach the following levels by February 2018:

— 700 deployed carriers, that is, the total deployed land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), ballistic missiles submarines(SLBM) and strategic bombers;

— 800 carriers, including non-deployed ones, that is, those in storage or intended for testing;

— 1550 warheads, including warheads on ICBMs and SLBMs and bombers. The latter are counted not only as one carrier, but also as one charge.

On at the moment, according to data published as of March 1, 2016, the parties are close to the required indicators, and in some places have already achieved them. Thus, the number of deployed delivery vehicles in Russia is 521, and the number of warheads in the United States is 1,481. Paradoxically, since September 2013, the number of warheads in the Russian arsenal has been growing almost continuously - this fact is explained by the fact that the entry into service of new missile systems, which are equipped with a separable warhead with individual guidance units (MIRV IN), is ahead of the decommissioning of old monoblock ones.

To reach the restrictions laid down in START-3, the domestic military will have to, in a year and a half, if not completely complete the renewal of the arsenal (this process in our tradition is almost continuous), then carry out active work to remove outdated systems from service, while providing them with a worthy replacement .

Traditionally, the basis of domestic strategic nuclear forces is Rocket Forces strategic purpose(Strategic Missile Forces) is the land component of the nuclear triad. The importance of the Strategic Missile Forces is emphasized by the fact that it is a separate branch of the military, subordinate directly to General Staff Armed Forces of Russia and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. In addition, they are the first and most successful to undergo modernization.

Sword that brings peace

Precise data on the composition of the Strategic Missile Forces in Russia are not published, but the area is relatively widely covered in the media, and general conclusions can be drawn based on open domestic and foreign publications.

The Strategic Missile Forces are armed with land-based ICBMs installed in silos launchers(silos) and on mobile ground-based missile systems (PGRK) - there are a little more of the latter. Both options are different answers to the question of maximum survivability during an attack and, as a consequence, ensuring a retaliatory strike, the imminent threat of which is the basis of the entire concept of nuclear deterrence. Modern silos have the highest security, and, given their location at a distance from each other, the enemy will have to spend a warhead on each, and possibly several to guarantee (technical failure of the attacking ICBM or a significant miss).

Operation missile silo relatively simple and cheap. The disadvantage is that the coordinates of all silos are probably known to the enemy and they are potentially vulnerable to high-precision non-nuclear weapons. However, this problem is still relevant for the relatively distant future, since modern strategic cruise missiles have subsonic speed and it is almost impossible to suddenly hit all silos with them.

PGRK, on ​​the contrary, are supposed to survive not on stability, but on mobility - being dispersed during a threatening period, they become less vulnerable to targeted strikes, and they can be effectively dealt with by massive strikes on the basing areas, preferably with high-power charges. Sustainability mobile platform To damaging factors nuclear explosion much lower than that of the mine, but even in this case, to reliably defeat them, the enemy will have to spend large number their warheads.

Above we considered the most worst option. The optimal thing is not a retaliatory strike, but a counter strike, in which the missiles of the attacked side will have time to take off before the enemy warheads fall on the base areas. Ensuring this is a matter of missile attack warning systems, strategic nuclear forces control systems and the efficiency of using their means, which is a separate big topic.

From 1987 to 2005, it was in limited operation in Russia. small quantity combat railway missile systems (BZHRK) “Molodets” (12 trains were produced, three launchers in each) - the only BZHRKs brought to mass production and combat duty. From a tactical point of view, the BZHRK can be considered a special case of the PGRK: the main difference is the use of an extended network for dispersal during a threatening period railways. On the one hand, this ensures high mobility; on the other, the use of civilian infrastructure complicates security issues and, to a certain extent, “exposes” large transport hubs to the first strike, i.e. cities. The issue of visibility for reconnaissance means is also painful, since, once detected, it is not easy for a train to hide again - for obvious reasons.

A new one is at the design stage. The use of smaller missiles will reduce weight, which will increase stealth - unlike Molodets, it will not need three diesel locomotives at once. However, the prospects for the Barguzin are still unclear, as criticism, including from the customer, comes from difficulties in operation and high costs in the context of budget cuts, with disputed advantages compared to the widely used wheeled PGRK.

The basis of the Strategic Missile Forces is now made up of them, namely the extensive Topol family of ICBMs: RS-12M Topol, etc. The original Topols began entering combat duty in 1985 and are now being withdrawn from service. This process is planned to be completed at the beginning of the next decade. Rocket launches are carried out regularly, both to confirm the serviceability of the fleet and to test new ones technical solutions(considering that they are planned to be destroyed anyway, the flying laboratory in this situation gets “for free”). According to various estimates, from 54 to 72 of these PGRKs remain in service: given the continuous process of the Topols becoming “non-deployed” and subsequent disposal, it is difficult to accurately determine their number at a particular point in time.

The RS-12M2 "Topol-M" (beginning of deployment - 2006) and RS-24 "Yars" (beginning of deployment - 2010) complexes are a development of the "Topol" with an improved missile. Due to the slightly increased mass, the number of axles increased from seven to eight. Topol-M and Yars are close to each other - the most important difference is the difference in combat equipment. If the Topol-M, like the original Topol, is equipped with one warhead with a capacity of 550 kT, then the Yars has a MIRV with three or four blocks of 150–300 kT each (according to various estimates). The use of one warhead on the Topol-M is due to the fact that it was created taking into account the requirements of START-2, which prohibited complexes with MIRVs. After the failure of START-2, it was rapidly modernized using the technical groundwork laid down.

Before the transition to Yarsy, only 18 units of the Topol-M PGRK were deployed. However, its missile has been widely used (60 units delivered) since 1998 to replace the UR-100N UTTH (RS-18A) ICBM, with its service life exhausted, in silos. At least 63 Yars are deployed in a mobile version. In addition, they are used for the ongoing replacement of UR-100N silos - there are at least 10 of them.