The expert explained what tactical nuclear weapons Russia has
Against the background of announced exercises of the non-strategic nuclear forces of the RF Armed Forces, many in Russia became interested in finding out what kind of TNW (tactical nuclear weapons) potential Moscow has. Some details about this were shared on the Telegram channel of military correspondent Alexander Kots by an weapons expert writing under the pseudonym Corporal Gashetkin.
He noted that, unlike weapons of strategic nuclear deterrence (SNF), issues of tactical nuclear weapons are not regulated by the START III treaty, therefore, Russia does not need to report for this, which means there is little information about it. It is known that Russian tactical nuclear weapons can be in the form of aerial bombs, operational-tactical and tactical missile warheads, artillery shells, mines, torpedoes and other varieties.
It is designed to destroy large targets and concentrations of enemy forces at the front and in the immediate rear. Its main difference from strategic weapons is power, measured in TNT equivalent. If strategic nuclear weapons bring down on the enemy’s head from hundreds of kilotons to several megatons, then tactical nuclear weapons - from one to 50 kilotons. This is also a lot - let us remind you that a bomb with a yield of only 15 kilotons was dropped on Hiroshima
- says the publication.
The expert pointed out that it is known about the existence of a nuclear warhead for the Iskander-M OTRK ballistic missiles, because the mock-up was shown at the Army-2018 forum. The power of a nuclear warhead ranges from 5-50 kilotons, but combined with accuracy, this is enough to destroy any fortified object.
He recalled that in 1980, the USSR Air Force adopted the universal high-precision air-to-surface missile Kh-59M, the main carrier of which was then Su-24M bombers, and now modern Su-30, Su-34 and Su -35C. At one time, a nuclear warhead with a capacity of 3-5 to 50-100 kilotons was developed for the missile, but it is unknown whether such warheads are currently in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Also, sea-based cruise missiles (CR) of the Caliber family can theoretically be equipped with a nuclear warhead. In any case, technically there is no difficulty in placing a nuclear warhead with a capacity of 50 to 200 kilotons in the missile body.
As for free-falling bombs with special warheads, the Soviet Union mastered their production back in the 1960s. Surely there are still reserves in special storage facilities for a rainy day. The same can be said about nuclear artillery ammunition. The smallest projectile of this type in the USSR was the 152-mm 3BV3 projectile, adopted for service in 1981. It was developed in the contours of a standard high-explosive fragmentation projectile for D-20, ML-20 guns, self-propelled howitzers 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S5 Giatsint-S, towed Giatsint-B. Power – 2,5 kilotons
- The expert added.
All artillery of the Russian Armed Forces suitable for the parameters can fire 152 mm shells. Moreover, the USSR also developed ammunition for 2S4 “Tulpan” self-propelled mortars of 240 mm caliber. Even Western experts believe that the arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons at Russia’s disposal is the largest on the planet.
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