. . . air-to-surface missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, gravity bombs, and depth charges for medium-range bombers, tactical bombers, and naval aviation, as well as anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-aircraft missiles, and torpedoes for surface ships and submarines. There may also be warheads remaining for surface-to-air and other aerospace defense missile systems. [3]
The country clearly has maintained the diverse Soviet arsenal albeit at reduced numbers. A Carnegie Endowment report edited by Alexei Arbatov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and retired Russian Army Major General Vladimir Dvorkin reports that Russia has a tactical nuclear stockpile of about 700–1,000 antiship and antisubmarine missiles, depth bombs, torpedoes, and submarine-launched cruise missiles as well as 630 tactical nuclear warheads for surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). [4] Noted Russian journalist Pavel Felgenhauer has written that the S-300, the S-400, and the S-500 SAM systems are nuclear-capable. These missiles also have conventional and nuclear strike capability against surface ships and land targets. The S-300, the shortest ranged of the three, reportedly can strike at a distance of up to 250 miles. [5]
Russian naval nuclear doctrine is part of the country’s comprehensive nuclear doctrine that allows for the first use of nuclear weapons in conventional war. In October 2017, state-run Sputnik News drove home this point: “According to . . . military doctrine, Moscow reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack against the country, as well as an act of aggression with the use of conventional weapons.” The Russian Navy regards nuclear weapons, including tactical nuclear weapons, as extremely important.
In 2006, Admiral Mikhail Abramov, Chief of the Main Naval Headquarters, stated that the role of the country’s naval forces is to “deliver surprise and concentrated strikes, including use of nuclear weapons at surface targets, aircraft carrier task force[s], detachments of warships and transport convoys, [and] to fight successfully against submarines of any enemy.” [6] In 2011, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotskiy agreed, saying, “In wartime, the strategic purpose for the use of the Navy . . . includ[es] the use of non-strategic and strategic nuclear weapons.” Putin issued a decree, “Fundamentals of the State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Naval Operations for the Period until 2030,” in July 2017 that emphasized strategic nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence, noting “The general-purpose naval forces occupy an important place in meeting strategic deterrence challenges.” It went on to say:
During the escalation of military conflict, demonstration of readiness and determination to employ non-strategic nuclear weapons capabilities is an effective deterrent. . . . Indicators of the effectiveness of measures undertaken to execute the State Policy on Naval Operations are . . . the capability of the Navy to damage an enemy’s fleet at a level not lower than critical with the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. [7]
U.S. Air Force General Paul Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress in May 2017 that Russia is developing new “nonstrategic” weapons. All, or nearly all, legacy Soviet-era and new cruise missiles, such as the advanced naval Kalibr, are “dual capable”—that is, able to deliver conventional and nuclear warheads. [8] …
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