Russia is expanding its ballistic missile arsenal with new strategic systems, planning maximum-range launches, and may increase testing in response to rising external threats, a senior Russian military commander said on Monday.
In a clear warning that Russia will respond to perceived security threats, Sergei Karakayev, the commander of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, announced plans for maximum-range test launches as part of efforts to test new systems.
“In terms of range, there is no place where our missiles cannot reach,” Russia’s RIA state news agency quoted Karakayev as saying in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda, the official newspaper of the Russian Defence Ministry.
He further stated that Russia may escalate the frequency of tests of its advanced missile systems if external threats continue to grow. Publicly confirming for the first time the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile system called Osina, Karakayev emphasized that introducing Osina and other new systems into combat readiness is a top priority.
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Without divulging specifics, Karakayev revealed that Russia is also completing the development of systems similar to its intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, Oreshnik. President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that Russia plans to mass-produce Oreshnik soon.
Russia previously used the Oreshnik missile against Ukraine in November in retaliation for Kyiv’s deployment of U.S. and British missiles against Russian forces.
Karakayev said Russia’s new state armament development programme would explore options for advancing strategic offensive weapons, factoring in developments by the United States after the New START nuclear arms treaty expires in 2026. In October, Russian media reported that Moscow would not sign a replacement for the START treaty, which has been the final effort to limit nuclear arsenals and enhance transparency between the former Cold War superpowers.
Karakayev indicated that Russia might consider increasing the number of warheads on deployed missiles after the treaty expires, should the United States take similar actions.
He also confirmed that Moscow and Washington continue to exchange 24-hour advance warnings for any planned test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles or submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
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Russia’s armament programme ensures that the country’s strategic missile forces remain equipped with mobile systems, Karakayev said.
“Missile divisions equipped with mobile-based missile systems will be a decisive means of inflicting devastating damage on the enemy in a retaliatory strike due to high manoeuvrability and survivability, especially in the context of the deployment of the U.S. missile defence system,” he said.
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