Hypersonics, subs, bombers – and a new class of weapons unleashed after the termination of the INF moratorium

Deep inside Russia’s military test ranges and beneath the world’s oceans, in silos, hangars, and on submarine decks, hundreds of missiles sit on alert – from road-mobile intercontinental systems to hypersonic glide vehicles designed to punch through any defense network.

Their launchers are scattered across the country, nuclear subs quietly patrol the high seas, and strategic bombers can be airborne within minutes.

Today, Russia’s missile forces form one of the most technologically diverse and sophisticated arsenals anywhere in the world. They blend the engineering legacy of the Soviet era with cutting-edge innovations – from upgraded solid-fuel ICBMs to the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, and new-generation systems poised to enter service in the post-INF era.

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Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN)

The Strategic Rocket Forces are the backbone of Russia’s nuclear deterrent – land-based missile systems with intercontinental and intermediate ranges. Historically, both the Soviet Union and Russia spread the work on strategic missile design across several engineering bureaus, each with its own specialty. Together they built a force where different systems complement each other, but also compete in terms of technology.

Today, the RVSN is one of the most modernized branches of the Russian military: over 95 percent of its missile systems are new or upgraded to the latest standard.

Topol-M and Yars: At the heart of the RVSN’s mobile arsenal are the solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology – the Topol-M and its successor, the Yars.

The Topol-M, deployed between 1997 and 2012, carries a single, high-yield megaton-class warhead.
The Yars, which entered service in 2009, is an upgraded Topol-M equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Each missile can carry three to six warheads ranging from roughly 100 kilotons to over 300 kilotons.

Most of these missiles are road-mobile, mounted on heavy multi-axle launchers built at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. The Yars continues to receive incremental upgrades, and in the next couple of years it will fully replace the remaining Topol-M systems, which in turn will be converted into Start-M space launch vehicles.

Early ballistic missiles, from Germany’s V-2 to the Soviet R-1, carried non-separating warheads, meaning the entire body of the missile traveled to the target. That design wasted mass and reduced accuracy. Modern warheads separate from their boosters, can deploy decoys to confuse missile defenses, and often come in MIRV configurations. Some are maneuverable reentry vehicles (MARVs), capable of both altering their altitude and changing direction in order to evade interception.

Avangard – hypersonic pioneer: Since 2019, the RVSN has fielded two regiments of the Avangard system – a UR-100NUTTH ICBM fitted with a maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicle. Capable of flying at extreme speeds while evading any known missile defense, the Avangard remains unique in the world.

Avangard. © Sputnik/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Sarmat – the heavy hitter: Coming soon is the Sarmat heavy liquid-fuel ICBM, developed by the Makeyev Design Bureau. Sarmat will be able to carry several Avangard glide vehicles or up to 10–14 conventional warheads, with the option of attacking via the South Pole in order to bypass northern missile defenses. With a throw weight of about 10 tons, it will replace the legendary RS-20V Voyevoda (NATO designation: SS-18 “Satan” ), a Cold War icon of Soviet nuclear power.

Sarmat. © Sputnik/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Oreshnik and the post-INF era: Russia’s August 1, 2025 decision to abandon its self-imposed moratorium on intermediate-range missiles cleared the way for the Oreshnik to enter service within months – perhaps weeks. Designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, the mobile Oreshnik shares much in common with other RVSN systems. Deployment is expected in western Russia and Belarus, reshaping the European strategic theater.

Oreshnik. © Sputnik/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Looking ahead to the Burevestnik: While the RVSN does not yet field ground-launched cruise missiles with strategic ranges, work continues on the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile. Once testing is complete, it will almost certainly join Russia’s strategic arsenal.

Burevestnik. © Sputnik/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Naval component of the Strategic Forces

Russia’s sea-based deterrent relies on two main types of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs): the solid-fuel Bulava and the older liquid-fuel R-29RMU.

Bulava and the Borei-Class: The Bulava shares much of its design heritage with the land-based Yars and Topol-M ICBMs. These missiles are deployed on Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). Seven Boreis are currently in service, and the fleet is expected to grow to twelve by the late 2020s.

Bulava. © Sputnik/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federatio

Each Bulava carries six thermonuclear warheads, and each submarine holds 16 missiles – giving a single SSBN the capacity to deliver up to 96 warheads to targets across the globe.

R-29RMU and Project 667BDRM: The R-29RMU liquid-fuel SLBM remains in service aboard the older Project 667BDRM submarines. Depending on the loadout, it can carry between four and ten warheads. These submarines will likely be phased out by the end of the decade as Borei-class boats replace them. However, the R-29RMU could still see a “second life” – either in continued naval service or repurposed as space launch vehicles.

R-29RMU. © Press service of JSC "GRC Makeev"

Air component of the Strategic Forces

Russia’s strategic aviation is the most flexible leg of its nuclear triad – able not only to deliver long-range strikes, but also to project power well beyond the country’s borders. Its arsenal includes both cruise missiles and air-launched ballistic weapons.

Ballistic missiles follow a high-arc trajectory determined largely by their initial boost, like a stone thrown into the air.
Aeroballistic missiles blend ballistic flight with aerodynamic control in the atmosphere, allowing them to maneuver en route to the target.
Cruise missiles are powered aircraft with wings and jet engines, flying through the atmosphere like small, unmanned planes.

The Kinzhal hypersonic system: A centerpiece of Russia’s air-launched strategic capability is the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, carried by the MiG-31K interceptor. The aircraft acts as a first-stage booster, accelerating the missile to about Mach 2 before launch. From there, Kinzhal follows a quasi-ballistic path and can perform terminal maneuvers to evade missile defenses. The system can carry either a conventional or a nuclear warhead.

Tu-95MS, Tu-160, and the Kh-101: Alongside Kinzhal, Russia’s strategic bomber fleet includes the turboprop Tu-95MS and the supersonic Tu-160. Both serve as launch platforms for the Kh-101 cruise missile – a modern, long-range weapon with a reach of up to 5,000 kilometers, capable of striking targets almost anywhere on Earth.

Missile defense and anti-satellite systems

Beyond the nuclear triad, Russia fields strategic systems designed to shield its own forces and disrupt an adversary’s space-based assets.

A-135M Missile Defense: Encircling Moscow is the A-135M missile defense network, built to intercept incoming intercontinental and hypersonic missiles aimed at the capital. Its core interceptors, the 53T6M, are deployed across five launch sites that together form a defensive ring, giving Russia a unique capability to defend its political and command centers against a limited nuclear strike.

Nudol Anti-Satellite Weapon: Separate from the A-135M, the Nudol system is designed for a different kind of target – satellites in low Earth orbit. Tested throughout the 2010s, Nudol is believed to be ready for deployment during a crisis. Its mission would be to destroy hostile satellites that support targeting, reconnaissance, or communications for enemy strategic forces – a capability that could be decisive in a high-stakes conflict.

Conclusion

Russia’s strategic forces are a layered, interdependent system where land-based missiles, ballistic missile submarines, strategic bombers, and space-oriented assets work in concert. The RVSN guarantees a secure second-strike capability, the Navy adds global reach and survivability, and the Air Force brings flexibility – able to signal, deter, or strike at short notice.

The August 2025 decision to abandon the self-imposed moratorium on intermediate-range missiles marks a pivotal moment. It clears the way for systems like the Oreshnik to be deployed closer to key theaters of operation, altering the strategic equation in Europe and beyond. For Moscow, this shift is not simply about adding firepower – it’s about reshaping the geography of deterrence.

From hypersonic Avangards to the forthcoming Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, Russia is blending its Soviet-era engineering heritage with next-generation designs. The result is one of the world’s most diverse and capable missile arsenals – a force built to ensure the country’s strategic autonomy in an era of renewed great-power rivalry.

Gerasimov

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