Russia just conducted a large-scale nuclear-missile exercise

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Russia just conducted a large-scale nuclear-missile exercise

Russian nuclear forces conducted a large-scale exercise last week that included test firings of several long-range missiles along with dual-capable shorter range ballistic and cruise missiles, according to US officials.

The US Strategic Command, meanwhile, is conducting a similar nuclear command and control exercise, but without firing any nuclear missiles.

The Russian exercise was closely monitored by US intelligence agencies and was conducted in greater secrecy than past nuclear war games have been, according to officials and military analysts.

A US defense official said the Russian war games involved firing an SS-N-18 submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, an SS-N-23 SLBM, a land-based mobile SS-25 intercontinental ballistic missile, and a new SSN-30A Kalibr long-range ship-fired missile.

The Russians also practiced firing an air-launched cruise missile during the Oct. 30 maneuvers.

The Kalibr is an intermediate-range land-attack cruise missile that was first used by Russia in combat in Syria against rebel forces last month.

“In general, the results of the drills demonstrated high combat readiness of strategic nuclear forces and high-precision long-range weapons,” said Gen. Sergey Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, on Tuesday, according to the state-run Itar-Tass news agency.

Mark Schneider, a former Pentagon nuclear forces official, said the Russian defense ministry described the exercise as routine, despite the unusual missile firings from land-based forces, submarines, and strategic bombers.

“Overall, they were more secretive than they have been in the past about this exercise,” Schneider said. “It was announced by the Russian defense ministry, not the Kremlin and fewer details were provided.”…..more here

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Russia just conducted a large-scale nuclear-missile exercise