Snapshots

Russia's nuclear deterrent capability, which includes defensive measures such as this early-warning capability, is a core to its bid for great power status.

Russia&nbsp;managed to restore a significant element of its nuclear deterrent by regaining a minimal space-based early warning capability when its most recent Tundra satellite became operational following a May 22 launch. The system, which serves to detect ballistic missile launches from the United States, had been nonfunctional over the last six years after Russia&#39;s&nbsp;previous early-warning satellite constellation went out of service. Moscow&#39;s nuclear capabilities have been a priority in defense budgeting and scientific development as a cornerstone of its claim to great power status. The step is just as notable in that context as <a href="/article/russias-new-arms-gives-us-room-pause-missiles-putin">Russia&#39;s development of offensive systems</a> such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles or nuclear-armed torpedoes is.

Russia will continue to focus on developing space-based early warning capabilities, since its newly restored system lacks redundancy. The Kupol system, the collective term for Russia&rsquo;s space-based warning capability, will eventually comprise at least six satellites. Currently, only four Tundra satellites have been launched beginning in 2015, though their combined orbits already provide around-the-clock observation of U.S. territory. Russia&#39;s previous early warning satellite constellation, composed of Oko satellites, became defunct when its last geosynchronous satellite to&nbsp;guarantee&nbsp;permanent visibility of the United States failed in April 2014. Two remaining orbiting satellites continued to provide some visibility after this, but only managed to provide a total of three hours of coverage of the United States per day, leaving Russia without the ability to detect potential launches in a timely fashion.Russia&#39;s nuclear deterrent capability, which includes defensive measures such as this early-warning capability and offensive weapon systems, is a core element of its strategy to position itself as a global power. The Kremlin has repeatedly drawn attention to those offensive developments including the modern Sarmat ICBM, the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle and its Poseidon nuclear torpedo, but defensive developments are as much a part of Russia&#39;s efforts to guarantee its territorial integrity and global maneuverability. The Kupol space-based early warning is but one component of a much larger defensive capability that also consists of ground-based Voronezh radars and increasing ballistic missile defense capabilities of S-400 and S-500 systems. Similarly, Russia has explored the boundaries of diplomatic frameworks of strategic arms control &mdash;&nbsp;which has contributed to the decline of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty and complicates the extension or replacement of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty &mdash;&nbsp;as part of its bid to ensure a nuclear balance that guarantees its security.

Highlights

Russia

Military & Security

Russia managed to restore a significant element of its nuclear deterrent by regaining a minimal space-based early warning capability when its most recent Tundra satellite became operational following a May 22 launch. Russia's nuclear deterrent capability, which includes defensive measures such as this early-warning capability, is a core to its bid for great power status.

Filters

Search Tools

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support