Russia announces expansion of its nuclear potential.
Russia will expand its nuclear potential based on its assessment of current realities and the international political context, and not be bound by any particular response from the United States.
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| Russia's Yars intercontinental ballistic missile. |
On January 10, Viktor Bondarev, head of the Defense Committee of the Federation Council, made this statement to Sputnik.
"Russia is expanding its nuclear potential based on today's realities and the general international political context, not in response to any specific attack or US statements," said the Russian senator.
Bondarev emphasized that the development of the Strategic Nuclear Forces (SNF) is a priority of the Russian Ministry of Defense, also linked to the new priorities of the State program for weapons for the years 2018-2027.
The new national program planned for the next decade will completely modernize the strategic missile system. Topol will be replaced with the more modern and sophisticated Yars.
"Last year, we re-equipped three regiments of the Strategic Missile Forces, they were supplied with Yars, and the aviation component of the Strategic Nuclear Forces received three upgraded aircraft," Bondarev said. "The development trend is rapid and steady."