II. Russian nuclear forces

Chapter:

10. World nuclear forces

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2020

Author(s):

Shannon N. Kile, Hans M. Kristensen

As of January 2020, Russia maintained a military stockpile of approximately 4315 nuclear warheads—around 15 fewer than the estimate for January 2019.¹ About 2440 of these were offensive strategic warheads, of which roughly 1570 were deployed on land-and sea-based ballistic missiles and at bomber bases. Russia also possessed approximately 1875 non-strategic (tactical) nuclear warheads—a slight increase compared with the estimate for January 2019 due to the fielding of dual-capable non-strategic weapons. All of the non-strategic warheads were in central storage sites.² An estimated additional 2060 retired warheads were awaiting dismantlement (110 fewer than the estimate for January 2019), giving a total inventory of approximately 6375 warheads (see table 10.3). As of September 2019, Russia was reported, under the 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START), to have 1426 deployed warheads attributed to 513 deployed strategic launchers—that is, deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and deployed heavy bombers.³ The number of deployed warheads reported under New START differs from the estimate presented here because the treaty attributes one weapon to each deployed bomber—even though bombers do not carry weapons under normal circumstances—and does not count warheads stored at bomber bases.