Russia's Nuclear Forces: The World's Leading Nuclear Arsenal

On July 19, 2018, the "先锋" missile system was being prepared for launch within Russia.

Russia is a leading nuclear power with the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, which includes a wide range of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. This enables it to use these weapons for deterrence, support limited regional military operations, and launch large-scale strikes from long-range strategic delivery platforms.

A report released by the Federation of American Scientists in May 2025 stated that Russia's nuclear arsenal consists of 5,459 nuclear warheads, accounting for about 44.5% of the total number of nuclear warheads in the world.

The report indicated that 1,718 nuclear warheads are deployed in Russia's nuclear arsenal, with 870 deployed on long-range land-based ballistic missiles, approximately 640 on submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and more than 200 at heavy strategic bomber bases.

The arsenal also includes 1,477 tactical nuclear warheads and 1,114 strategic nuclear warheads stored in reserve, as well as about 1,150 retired complete nuclear warheads awaiting dismantling and processing.

Russia maintains its nuclear arsenal and uses it as a deterrent against nuclear and conventional threats. Therefore, Russia continues to modernize its nuclear triad (land-based, sea-based, and air-based delivery systems), adopting new systems with improved performance. Since the mid-2010s, Moscow has begun showcasing high-yield nuclear weapons, most notably the "Poseidon" torpedo, known as the "doomsday weapon." According to Russian sources, this torpedo can submerge entire cities.

In November 2015, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States would resume nuclear testing, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued instructions to prepare for the potential resumption of nuclear weapon testing after more than three decades of suspension.

The Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in Kazakhstan was a location where the Soviet Union conducted multiple nuclear tests (AP - Photo).

Origins

Russia's military nuclear program dates back to the Soviet era. In the 1940s, the Manhattan Project in the United States developed the atomic bomb, prompting Moscow to initiate its own nuclear program.

In 1945, after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Soviet Union accelerated its research in the nuclear field and established an administrative body led by physicist Igor Kurchatov to oversee nuclear fission research and the development of nuclear weapons.

In 1946, the Soviet Union's first nuclear reactor, F-1, successfully achieved a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction using uranium. Sustained research eventually led to the successful test of the Soviet Union's first nuclear weapon, RDS-1, conducted in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan in 1949. The explosion had a yield of 22 kilotons, exceeding the power of two American atomic bombs.

In the 1950s, influenced by the nuclear arms race with the United States, the Soviet Union accelerated its nuclear testing. It conducted its first 400-kiloton thermonuclear (hydrogen) bomb test, its first tactical nuclear bomb test, launched its first nuclear missile and nuclear torpedo. In 1957, the Soviet Union also successfully conducted the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile test.

The "Neptune" torpedo in Russia's nuclear arsenal (Reuters)

Expanding the Nuclear Arsenal

Between 1958 and 1961, the Soviet Union voluntarily suspended nuclear testing. However, in mid-1961, the Soviet Union resumed nuclear testing, conducting a series of nuclear tests, including the detonation of the most powerful nuclear explosion in history - the Tsar Bomba, with a yield of 5,800 megatons. The Soviet Union also conducted its first underground nuclear test and tested the first cruise missile carrying a nuclear warhead.

Since resuming nuclear testing, the Soviet Union continued to expand its nuclear arsenal. By the mid-1980s, the Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal was estimated to have over 30,000 strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, delivered through a three-tiered delivery system, including land-based ballistic missiles, submarines, and bombers.

This nuclear force was supported by a vast infrastructure, including early warning radars, military satellites, nuclear weapons storage facilities, and nuclear command, control, and communication systems.

The Russian defense industry played a key role in the development and production of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems, as it included specialized departments responsible for all components of the program, from uranium extraction and scientific research to the mass production of missiles, aircraft, and submarines.

Stopping Nuclear Testing and Disarmament

The Soviet Union voluntarily suspended nuclear testing from mid-1985 to early 1987, and then reached an agreement with the United States to commit to destroying all intermediate-range land-based nuclear missiles by 1991, thereby reducing its nuclear arsenal.

In 1990, the Soviet Union conducted its last nuclear test, a 70-kiloton device, ending 715 nuclear tests conducted between 1949 and 1990, and then resumed the nuclear testing pause.

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Cold War and the nuclear arms race came to an end. However, Russia is considered the sole inheritor of the vast nuclear arsenal left behind by the Soviet Union, which includes not only nuclear warheads but also intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers.

Shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the two former superpowers in the arms race reached an agreement on the START-1 Treaty, accelerating the reduction of their strategic nuclear arsenals. At that time, each side had more than 10,000 nuclear warheads.

Throughout the 1990s and subsequent decades of the 21st century, both sides continued to reduce their strategic nuclear arsenals through a series of bilateral treaties, eliminating intermediate-range missiles, and banning nuclear testing.

Putin supervises Russia's "nuclear triad" exercise

Nuclear Energy Development

Since the early 2000s, Russia has been implementing a comprehensive modernization plan for its nuclear capabilities. In December 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that modernized weapons currently account for about 95% of its nuclear arsenal.

A report by the Federation of American Scientists indicated that Russia has modernized all of its Soviet-era mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, including upgrading missile forces, equipping launch platforms with advanced air defense systems, and modernizing launch control centers, storage facilities, and other infrastructure.

In 2018, Russia showcased several high-performance new nuclear weapons, including hypersonic missiles, glide vehicles, nuclear-powered torpedoes, and nuclear-powered cruise missiles.

Preparing for Potential Nuclear Testing

Multiple indicators show that Russia is ready for nuclear testing. In November 2023, President Putin signed a bill officially announcing Russia's withdrawal from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

A report published by CNN on September 22, 2023, stated that according to satellite images obtained exclusively by the media, Russia, the United States, and China have all expanded their respective nuclear test sites in recent years.

In 2024, the head of the nuclear test site in Novaya Zemlya, Russia, announced that the test site was ready to resume full-scale testing activities. Satellite images also showed increased activity at the test site, including new construction projects.

At the end of October 2025, President Putin signed a law terminating the agreement with the United States on plutonium disposition. The agreement aimed to prevent further development of nuclear weapons by both sides.

The following month, Putin instructed his senior officials to submit potential nuclear weapon testing plans, while Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov claimed that the Novaya Zemlya test site was capable of conducting tests at any time.

Previously, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would resume nuclear testing.

The scene of the detonation of the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb "Joe 4" in August 1953 (Getty Images)

Russian Nuclear Strategy

The nuclear arsenal is a core element of Russia's security strategy. The nuclear strategy views it as a deterrent against nuclear and conventional threats that could endanger Russia and its allies.

In 2024, President Putin signed a revised nuclear strategy, reiterating that Russia's nuclear deterrence policy is essentially defensive and stipulating that the use of nuclear weapons should be a last resort.

The revised strategy states that an attack by a member state of the alliance on Russia or its allies is considered an attack on the entire alliance; attacks carried out by non-nuclear states with the support of nuclear states are considered joint attacks.

The document also expanded the scope of the president's authority to authorize the use of nuclear weapons, including:

• Receiving reliable intelligence about the launch of ballistic missiles or the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction towards Russia or its allies.
• An attack on critical components of Russia's infrastructure or military infrastructure.
• An attack on Russia or Belarus (as a member state of the alliance) using conventional weapons that constitutes a threat to its sovereignty or territorial integrity.
• Receiving reliable intelligence about a large-scale space-air attack or the use of space-air attacks (including strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones) crossing Russia's borders.

Ballistic missiles are one of the most prominent components of Russia's nuclear arsenal (Shutterstock)

Russian Nuclear Arsenal

Russia's nuclear arsenal mainly consists of two types of nuclear weapons: strategic nuclear weapons and tactical nuclear weapons.

• Strategic Nuclear Weapons

Strategic nuclear weapons make up the largest portion of Russia's nuclear arsenal. According to a prediction by the Federation of American Scientists in 2025, the strategic nuclear weapons stockpile contains 2,832 nuclear warheads, which can be launched from 592 long-range strategic delivery platforms, including three main types:

First Category: Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM)

Russia's nuclear arsenal includes about 330 intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can carry up to 1,254 nuclear warheads.

The Russian Strategic Missile Forces deploy various types of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can be launched from silos (underground launch facilities) or mobile platforms.

The main missiles include:

• RS-20V "Voevoda" missile

Known as "Satan" or "SS-18 Mod 5/6" by NATO, this silo-based missile has a range of 11,000 kilometers and can carry up to 10 warheads, each with a yield of 500 to 750 kilotons, with a precision of no more than 500 meters.

This type of missile is approaching the end of its service life, and Russia began phasing it out in 2021. By 2025, only 34 missiles will remain in service.

These missiles can carry up to 340 warheads, deployed at two locations: East Barabinsk (the 13th Missile Division) and Uzhur (the 62nd Missile Division).

• RS-12M1 "Topol-M" missile

NATO designation SS-27 Mod 1, with a range of 11,000 kilometers, carries a single 500-kiloton nuclear warhead. It was initially designed for silo launches. In 2006, the mobile version RS-12M2 "Topol-M" missile was introduced.

Since 2012, 78 of these missiles have been deployed, with 60 silo-based missiles stationed at the 60th Missile Brigade in Tatiyevо and 18 mobile missiles stationed at the 54th Guards Missile Brigade in Teikovo.

• RS-24 "Yars" missile

This is an upgraded version of the previous missile, with a range of 10,500 kilometers. It can carry multiple warheads, each with a yield of 150 to 200 kilotons. There are two models: mobile and silo-based.

By 2025, the number of deployed missiles for both models will be 206 each.

• UR-100N missile

This missile has a range of 10,000 kilometers and can carry six warheads, each with a yield of 500 to 600 kilotons. It is launched from silos.

Most UR-100N missiles have been retired, with a small number still stationed at the Dombrovsky base, under the command of two regiments of the 13th Missile Division (the 621st Regiment and the 368th Regiment).

Scene inside the Russian defense industry (European Press Agency)

• Pioneer missile

This upgraded missile, which entered service in 2019, is equipped with an enhanced glide vehicle, designed for intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches, with a speed of 6.28 kilometers per second, a range of over 6,000 kilometers, and a warhead yield of over 2 megawatts.

By 2025, Russia will deploy 12 of these missiles.

• RS-28 "Sarmat" missile

This modernized version of the missile, known as "Satan 2" in Europe, was unveiled in 2022 and is scheduled for deployment in 2025. It is launched from silos, with a range of 10,000 to 18,000 kilometers.

This improved missile can carry approximately 10 tons of nuclear warheads, and can carry up to 10 independently guided nuclear warheads or hypersonic glide vehicles.

• "Yakun" missile

This nuclear-powered cruise missile has a range of 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers. President Putin claims it can penetrate almost any air defense system in the world.

As of October 2025, the missile is still in development. Moscow announced a successful test flight, flying 14,000 kilometers in about 15 hours.

Second Category: Nuclear-Powered Submarines

The Russian Navy has 12 Delta-class and Borei-class nuclear-powered submarines, equipped with about 192 ballistic missiles, carrying 992 nuclear warheads. In addition, the Russian Navy also has several more advanced nuclear-powered submarines.

The most famous nuclear-powered submarines of Russia include:

Delta-4 class submarines: The Russian Navy has five of these submarines, built between 1985 and 1992. They belong to the Northern Fleet and are stationed in Yagelna Bay (Gajiyevо) on the Kola Peninsula.

These submarines can carry 16 ballistic missiles, with two types of missiles:

Sineva: An intercontinental ballistic missile launched from submarines, with a range of 8,300 kilometers, capable of carrying up to 10 warheads.

"Baner" missile: This is an improved version of the previous missile, launched from submarines, carrying four warheads, with a higher estimated maximum payload.

These two missiles are equipped with about 320 warheads.

Borei-class submarines: The Russian Navy has seven of these submarines, including four upgraded Borei-A class submarines.

These submarines are equipped with the Bulava SSN-32 ballistic missiles, with a maximum range of 8,300 kilometers. Each missile can carry multiple warheads. All these missiles are equipped with 672 nuclear warheads, each with a yield of 100 to 150 kilotons.

The remote control system of Russia's first nuclear reactor, which was put into operation in December 1946 (Russian media)

K-329 "Belgorod" submarine: This modern submarine joined the Northern Fleet in July 2022 and is hailed as the world's first "fifth-generation" submarine, considered one of the most powerful strategic naval weapons of Russia and a key component of Russia's strategic deterrence forces.

The "Belgorod" submarine is powered by two 190-megawatt pressurized water nuclear reactors, with a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour and can dive to a depth of 520 meters for up to four months.

This is a giant submarine, known for its immense destructive power, capable of carrying 100 million tons of nuclear warheads and performing two crucial security tasks:

Strategic Deterrence: It can carry six "doomsday weapons" called "Poseidon" nuclear-powered torpedoes, each carrying a 200-megaton nuclear warhead, and can travel underwater at a speed of nearly 160 kilometers per hour, remotely detonating radioactive tsunamis near the coast, capable of submerging entire cities.

According to official Russian statements, the Poseidon torpedo successfully completed testing in late October 2025.

An article in the U.S. Army War College Quarterly in 2025 reported that Russia produced the first batch of Poseidon torpedoes in early 2023.

Underwater warfare: The Belgorod base deploys small submarines capable of diving to a depth of 20,000 feet (approximately 6,000 meters) to perform tasks such as interfering with internet cables, pipelines, and sensors or conducting secret intelligence operations.

Khabarovsk: An advanced submarine was launched in November 2025, due to its extremely quiet operating system, difficult to detect, and capable of carrying powerful nuclear Poseidon torpedoes.

Third Category: Strategic Bombers

Russia has 67 heavy bombers capable of carrying nuclear warheads and gravity bombs. A report by the Federation of American Scientists in 2025 estimates that these bombers carry approximately 586 nuclear weapons in total.

These bombers and their munitions are stored in multiple bases, including Engels Air Base in Saratov Oblast and Uglich Air Base in Amur Oblast, as well as several central warehouses.

In 2022, Russia deployed some bombers to Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk Oblast and Olenya Air Base in Murmansk Oblast.

Russian strategic bombers are mainly divided into two categories:

• Tupolev Tu-160

NATO designation "Blackjack," this supersonic bomber has a range of 12,300 kilometers without refueling and is capable of aerial refueling.

Russia has 15 Tu-160 bombers, equipped with 156 nuclear warheads. Each bomber can carry up to 40 tons of ordnance, including 12 air-launched cruise missiles. These missiles belong to the following types:

Kh-102 missile: With a range of 2,500 to 2,800 kilometers, it carries a 250-kiloton warhead and can fly low to evade radar detection.

President George H.W. Bush (left) and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Getty Images)

Kh-BD missile: According to Russian sources, this is an advanced missile that will be equipped on bombers in 2023, with a range exceeding 6,500 kilometers.

• Tupolev Tu-95MS bomber

Russia has 52 (Tu) Tu-95MS bombers, equipped with 430 nuclear warheads, capable of being launched by various missiles, such as:

KH-102 missile: Also equipped on the aforementioned bombers.

Kh-55 missile: This is an air-to-surface cruise missile with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers. It can carry a nuclear warhead with a yield of 200 to 250 kilotons.

Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Russia is committed to deploying tactical nuclear weapons to achieve nuclear parity with other nuclear powers and counter the advantage of regional conventional forces, including NATO and China.

In 2025, the U.S. Department of State stated that the Russian military possesses 1,000 to 2,000 non-strategic nuclear warheads, while a report by the Federation of American Scientists in the same year estimated this number to be approximately 1,500. Tactical nuclear warheads can be deployed via air, sea, and land.

First Category: Naval Tactical Nuclear Weapons

The Russian Navy is the largest holder of non-strategic nuclear weapons, with an estimated 704 nuclear warheads used in various systems, including land-attack cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine missiles, air defense missiles, and torpedoes and depth charges.

These systems are deployed on various naval platforms, such as submarines, surface ships, and carrier-based aircraft.

The Russian Navy has six "Yasen-M" class submarines: Severomorsk, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Arkhangelsk, and Perm. Many surface ships and carrier-based aircraft are also equipped with nuclear warheads and dual-use nuclear-powered weapons systems.

The U.S. Navy has deployed various tactical cruise missiles, most notably:

3M-14 "Kalibr" missile: A sea-based land-attack missile with an estimated range of 1,500 to 2,500 kilometers, capable of carrying either a nuclear or conventional warhead.

3M-55 "Oniks" missile: An anti-ship missile with a range of 300 to 800 kilometers, capable of being launched from air or sea platforms, with a maximum speed of 3,180 kilometers per hour. It is equipped with a high-explosive warhead or a semi-armor-piercing warhead, weighing 200 kilograms and 250 kilograms respectively.

"Zircon" missile: A hypersonic missile with a speed range of 9,800 to 11,000 kilometers per hour, capable of carrying a nuclear or conventional warhead. It can be launched from the "Admiral Gorshkov" frigate and the "Bayraktar" class and "Kalgol" class small light frigates.

Second Category: Airborne Tactical Nuclear Weapons

The Russian Air Force has 334 non-strategic nuclear weapons, which can be delivered by a total of 289 different types of bombers, including:

• "Backfire" bomber: A medium-range bomber capable of carrying the "KH-22" missile, a long-range supersonic cruise missile with a speed of 4.6 Mach, a range of about 600 kilometers. It is designed to destroy large maritime targets, such as aircraft carriers, and can use conventional warheads or nuclear warheads with yields ranging from 350 to 1,000 kilotons.
• "Fencer-D" bomber: A front-line bomber with a maximum speed of 1,550 kilometers per hour and a range of over 3,000 kilometers, capable of carrying various types of missiles and various bombs.
• "Foxbat" fighter-bomber: The highest flight speed reaches 1,900 kilometers per hour, with a range of 4,000 kilometers. It can carry various missiles, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles, and anti-radiation missiles, as well as guided bombs and unguided bombs. Russia has 124 of these aircraft, and 76 upgraded versions have been purchased.
• Mig-31K bomber: This supersonic aircraft has a speed of 3,000 kilometers per hour and a range of 3,300 kilometers. It can launch the A-7760 "Kinzhal" (Dagger) ballistic missile. "Kinzhal" is a long-range dual-purpose hypersonic air-to-air missile with a range of 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers. It can carry a nuclear or conventional warhead and can be launched from multiple launchers.
• PAK FA fighter-bomber is a long-range multi-role aircraft with a speed of 2 Mach. It combines supersonic flight capability and stealth performance, capable of striking land, sea, and air targets. It can carry air-to-ground missiles and air-to-air missiles. It officially entered service in the Russian Air Force in 2020.

Concerns about a new nuclear arms race

Third Category: Tactical Nuclear Weapons for Air Defense

According to a report by the U.S. Department of State in 2023, Russia has allocated non-strategic nuclear warheads to defense systems that serve both air defense and ballistic missile functions. The Federation of American Scientists estimates that the number of tactical nuclear warheads allocated to the Russian air defense forces is approximately 345.

These defense systems that serve both air defense and ballistic missile functions include:

A-135: A ballistic missile defense system deployed around Moscow, equipped with approximately 68 T-6 "Gazelle" interceptors. It is estimated that Russia has equipped this system with 95 nuclear warheads and operates in coordination with coastal defense forces.

S-300 and S-400: These are mobile systems designed for field air defense. It is estimated that the number of nuclear warheads allocated to these systems is approximately 250.

Fourth Category: Land-Based Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Russia has a wide variety of short-range dual-use ballistic missiles that can carry conventional or nuclear warheads. According to a report by the Federation of American Scientists, approximately 95 nuclear warheads are allocated to these missiles.

The main dual-use missiles include:

• 9K720 "Iskander": A mobile short-range ballistic missile with a range of 400-500 kilometers, capable of carrying high-explosive, bunker-busting, or thermobaric warheads.
• 9M728: This is a cruise missile with a maximum range of 500 kilometers.
• 9M729: This is a land-based cruise missile launched from a mobile platform, with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers. Russia has deployed 20 of these missiles, each carrying one nuclear warhead.
• P-800 "Oniks" missile is a hypersonic missile originally designed for anti-ship operations, later modified for land attack missions. It can be used in conventional wars or hybrid wars.

Parade in Moscow commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany

Nuclear Treaties

The Soviet Union joined an international treaty:

• The 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): This treaty aims to achieve nuclear disarmament and prevent nuclear-armed states from transferring nuclear weapons to non-nuclear-armed states. Non-nuclear-armed signatories commit not to acquire nuclear weapons. In addition to this international treaty, since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Russia (and previously the Soviet Union) has continuously worked with the United States to limit nuclear weapons. They concluded several bilateral agreements, most notably:
• The 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty: The UK also joined this treaty, which prohibits nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater, and greatly limits underground nuclear tests. The treaty did not come into effect until May 1970.
• The 1972 Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I): This treaty stipulated a reduction in the number of nuclear missile launchers and submarine-launched ballistic missiles within five years.
• The 1974 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): According to this treaty, both sides were prohibited from conducting underground nuclear tests with a yield exceeding 150 kilotons.
• The 1979 Second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II): As an extension of the First Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, this treaty imposed restrictions on the nuclear weapons and their delivery systems (including strategic bombers) of both sides. It also specified specific reporting requirements and prohibited nuclear testing. The treaty was suspended a few months after its signing due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
• The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty: This treaty required both sides to destroy their land-based intermediate-range nuclear missile arsenals by 1991.
• The 1991 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty: This treaty required both sides to reduce the number of deployed strategic bombers and missile delivery systems to 1,600, and the number of nuclear warheads to 6,000. The treaty expired in 2009.
• The 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty: This treaty replaced the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and stipulated that both sides would limit the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to no more than 1,550, and reduce their strategic nuclear arsenal to 1,000. The treaty limited the number of field launch platforms to no more than 700. Additionally, the treaty allowed any party to conduct annual on-site inspections of facilities operated by the other party to ensure compliance with the treaty. The treaty is valid until February 2026.

Source: Russian media + Al Jazeera + U.S. media

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