Russia Considers Resuming Production of Medium and Short-Range Nuclear Ballistic Missiles.

Russia is looking to resume the production of medium and short-range ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads, President Vladimir Putin stated during a videoconference with members of the Security Council on June 28, 2024. This move comes amidst escalating tensions with the United States and NATO and aims to respond to what Russia perceives as provocative actions by the U.S.
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The RS-24 Yars is a three-stage solid-fuel missile that reportedly carries a payload of three reentry vehicles (RV) and penetration aids.(Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)

Putin emphasized that the United States has started developing missiles with a range exceeding 500 km, despite the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This has prompted Russia to consider its response by resuming the production of medium and short-range missiles. "The United States withdrew from this treaty under a false pretext and announced that they would produce such missile systems," said Putin.

Recent military exercises, particularly between the U.S. and Denmark, were also mentioned by Putin. The U.S. Navy, in collaboration with the Danish Army's Home Guard, conducted a training deployment of the Mk.70 PDS missile strike system on Bornholm Island. Although the Danish Ministry of Defense clarified that this was an exercise unrelated to an increased maritime threat in the Baltic, Putin used this example to justify Russia's actions.

Putin also asserted that the U.S. has deployed these systems in the Philippines, placing Russia in an unfavorable strategic position. Furthermore, the 9M729 missile, part of the Iskander complex and capable of being equipped with a nuclear warhead, has been highlighted by the U.S. as a violation of the INF Treaty, a significant factor in the U.S. withdrawal from the treaty.

In response to accusations of violating the INF Treaty, Pentagon and NATO representatives maintained that Russia had long possessed missiles exceeding the treaty limits, notably the 9M729. Russia, in turn, accused the U.S. of having similar intentions with their missile defense systems in Poland and Romania, which could be used for offensive purposes.

The situation is further exacerbated by the global context where other powers, such as China, are also developing short and medium-range ballistic missiles. For instance, China recently revealed photos of its Xian H-6N bomber equipped with an anti-ship aeroballistic missile, believed to be the YJ-21, with an estimated range of 1,500 kilometers and a speed of Mach 9.