Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


Overview

Of 62 strategic submarines deployed by the Soviet Union in 1990, by 1998 the Russian Navy had only 28, and by some recent reports, as few as 23 were operational. Most of the rest had been junked or were waiting to be. At a peak of the Cold War tensions, 20 to 22 submarines were at sea. By the late 1990s there were usually two, and they did not go far. By the late 1990s the lack of resources and qualified personnel forced the Russian Navy to cut back operations considerably, with typically only two of its two dozen ballistic missile submarines on combat patrol at sea at any time -- typically, a Delta-IV submarine in the Northern Fleet, and a Delta-III in the Pacific.

Since the late 1990s, the Russian Navy had been able to keep no more than two SSBNs on combat duty at a time (with anywhere from 96 to 258 warheads aboard). This level is comparable to that of Britain and France, each of which has only four such submarines. By 2000, the Russian Navy had suspended combat patrols by submarines. Since 2001, Russia has resumed global patrolling of the world ocean by its nuclear submarines.

As of May 2004 the Navy included six Project 667BDR (Delta III) and six Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) strategic submarines. These submarines carried a total of 192 SLBMs that could deliver 672 nuclear warheads. Two of these submarines of the Project 667BDRM type were undergoing overhaul. A single submarine of the Project 941 Typhoon class remained in commission, but it is refitted to carry the new Bulava missile system which has not entered production.

In FY 2003, 92 submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), 12 SLBM launchers, and 3 nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) were destroyed or eliminated with CTR assistance. One additional SSBN was placed on contract for dismantlement at the State Machine Building Enterprise Zvezdochka.

The Cooperative Threat Reduction program FY 2005-FY 2009 Five Year Plan will assist Russia in eliminating approximately 628 SLBM launchers in accordance with the START C or E Protocol at five START designated SLBM launcher elimination facilities and will provide assistance to dismantle 30 associated SSBNs and partially dismantle an additional 12 SSBNs. Two Yankee class, 35 Delta class, and 5 Typhoon class strategic SSBNs will be eliminated. This was a decrease of one Delta IV SSBN from the FY 2004 CTR Annual Report. Russia will eliminate 80 SLBM launchers and six associated SSBNs using the DoD provided equipment and infrastructure upgrades. In addition, DoD, through direct fixed-price contracts, will eliminate 548 launchers and dismantle 36 associated SSBNs.

The Cooperative Threat Reduction program FY 2006–FY 2011 Five-Year Plan anticipated Russia eliminating approximately 572 SLBM launchers in accordance with the START C or E Protocol at four START-designated SLBM launcher elimination facilities and will provided assistance to dismantle 32 associated SSBNs and dismantle an additional 7 SSBNs except for the bows and sterns. This was a decrease of one Delta IV and two Typhoon SSBNs from the FY 2005 CTR Annual Report since it was anticipated that Russia will keep these submarines beyond the FYDP. Russia eliminated 80 SLBM launchers and 6 associated SSBNs using DoD-provided equipment and infrastructure upgrades. DoD, through direct fixed-price contracts, will eliminate 492 launchers and fully dismantle 26 associated SSBNs.

The Cooperative Threat Reduction program FY 2007–FY 2011 Five-Year Plan anticipated dismantling 32 SSBNs. An additional seven SSBNs will be dismantled except for their bow and stern sections. Russia eliminated 80 SLBM launchers and 5 of 6 associated SSBNs using DoD-provided equipment and infrastructure upgrades. DoD, through direct fixed-price contracts, will eliminate 492 launchers and fully dismantle 26 associated SSBNs.

The Cooperative Threat Reduction program FY 2008–FY 2013 Five-Year Plan will eliminate 136 SLBM launchers and partially dismantle 7 associated SSBNs by FY 2013. Russia is responsible for completing dismantlement of the bow, sail, and stern sections. Support includes SSBN towing, SLBM launcher elimination, spent naval fuel defueling and transport to interim storage, sectioning and preparation of reactor-core compartments for storage afloat, and processing of low-level radioactive material. This project provides storage/transportation containers (casks) for spent naval fuel removed when defueling Delta III-class SSBNs and special railcars for transportation of fuel from the shipyard to a final storage/disposition location.

References


 

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