Russia offers new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching US: “It’s almost reassuring”

The demonstration may raise alarm bells against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, but for Alain de Neve, a security analyst at the Royal Higher Institute for Defense (IRSD), the move “Vladimir Putin’s Prohibitive Language”.

Be reliable to prevent

For Alain De Neve, the exhibition of this missile takes place within a specific framework for the development of nuclear technologies: “Since the 2010s, Vladimir Putin has emphasized the modernization of Russian strategic nuclear facilities”.. According to the analyst, this RS-24 Iars nuclear weapon is not added to the existing arsenal but replaces the previous versions. “Missiles also have expiration dates”, He mentions. The Russian president himself pointed out that the missile system will replace the older Tobol-M intercontinental ballistic missile.

With this parade, Vladimir Putin wants to demonstrate the modernity of his nuclear arsenal and send a clear message to his enemies. “He uses the language of nuclear deterrence”, Alain de Neve explains.

The advancement of these technologies and their modernization play on Russia’s credibility: if the country is reliable at the military level, deterrence is maintained. The researcher adds: “As long as the language of Vladimir Putin’s nuclear deterrence is based on demonstration, it is almost reassuring”.

Make up for the negative

For IRSD researcher Nicolas Gossett, this technological level is a gesture from Russia. He explains that this is not a novelty, but part of a certain structure of some of the country’s failures: “Russia has not been able to make positive announcements on the ground, so there is a material and technical demonstration”. Among the negative announcements, the Russian president recently had to admit that international sanctions will have an impact on the country’s economy.

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Atomic triangle

This demonstration of nuclear power is linked to the Russian president’s recent announcement to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Both cases fit the concept “Atomic Triangle”, As Alain De Neve explains: a short-range strike force, a long-range strike force and an underwater capability with nuclear warheads like Poseidon or Burevestnik.

A new beginning

In 2010, the United States and Russia signed a bilateral nuclear disarmament treaty. The agreement, New Start, aims to limit the two countries’ nuclear arsenals, reduce the number of missiles and bombers, but also inspect military bases. At the end of March 2023, Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would withdraw from the agreement.

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As Alain de Neve explains, this situation poses problems of nuclear transparency for Americans: “The only drawback is that with Russia withdrawing from the New START Treaty, American observers cannot verify Russian nuclear capability. There is an ambiguity.”. According to the analyst, Russia is still reporting its nuclear tests to the United States despite its withdrawal.

Russia’s demonstration of an ICBM is a way to deter its adversaries. Alain De Neve confirms this: There is nothing new under the sun for nuclear spies.