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Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Russia's Secret Nuclear Changes Revealed In ‘Huge' Security Breach
Russia has been undertaking a large-scale modernization of its nuclear missile infrastructure for years, according to leaked classified documents cited in a media investigation. The German publication Der Spiegel and Danish investigative group Danwatch, said the secret files showed architectural plans, internal layouts, and procurement records for new military installations and the outlets published satellite imagery they say backs up their claims. The investigation did not clarify to what extent the inner workings of the constructions are as specified by the blueprints. Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) told Newsweek the documents cited by the outlets appear to be construction blueprints. Tom Røseth, a Norwegian military expert who saw some of the documents, told Newsweek their revelations represented "a huge breach of security" for Russia. Newsweek has not independently confirmed the investigation's claims and has contacted Russia's defense ministry for comment. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in 2018 the development of new nuclear weapons systems he said would put his country ahead in the arms race with the West. An investigation that says Russia was also conducting a large-scale modernization of the Russian nuclear weapons complex, which Putin did not mention, will add to concerns about the threat Moscow poses. This is salient given the boasts by the Kremlin and its propagandists of Russia's atomic arms capabilities since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The investigation released on Wednesday and reported by Ukrainian outlets and BBC Russian, says Danwatch journalists had obtained more than two million documents concerning Russian military contracts, which were analyzed in collaboration with Der Spiegel. Although Russia tightened laws in 2020 restricting military records, the investigators said they bypassed these measures in 2024 to find blueprints revealing the layout of military sites with strategic nuclear weapons. The documents are said to reveal the modernization program, including renewing old Soviet-era bases and building other facilities from scratch. Images showed new barracks, guard towers, command centers, and storage buildings as well as underground tunnels, the journalists said. They also revealed internal layout of facilities where protective equipment is stored, locations of weapon cabinets and control rooms, and which buildings are connected by underground tunnels, the publications said. Journalists said the documents included blueprints of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces sites in the city of Yasny in the Orenburg region and detailed floor plans for facilities of the 621st and 368th missile regiments. The Yasny site is one of 11 locations from which missiles with nuclear warheads can be launched. The town hosts Russia's Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, according to the journalists. Experts estimate Russia has about 900 strategic nuclear warheads in underground silos. Kristensen, from the FAS, told Newsweek the documents appear to be construction blueprints which open a second layer to open-source intelligence and allow experts to combine satellite imagery observations with identified structures in the images. Røseth, associate professor in intelligence studies at the Norwegian Defence University College, said that while there was a small possibility it could be a disinformation campaign from Russia but the breach "appears to me very credible and the immense scope of it is impressive." "It reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the system," he told Newsweek Thursday, "and also details of the compounds and the nuclear silos." Danwatch and Der Spiegel said they had "gained access to hundreds of highly detailed blueprints showing how Russia is carrying out an enormous modernization of some of the world's most sensitive nuclear weapons facilities." Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) to Newsweek: "The documents open a second layer to open-source intelligence by allowing us to combine satellite imagery observations with identified structures in the blueprints." Tom Røseth, associate professor in intelligence studies at the Norwegian Defence University College to Newsweek: "It's nothing new that you have weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the Russian information system that you can access … But these specific details of nuclear sites are of far more importance." The documents show the extent of Russia's modernization of its strategic nuclear weapons forces is real and will add resonance to any future nuclear threats that Moscow makes. Related Articles Explosion Kills Russian Air Commander Who Lay Siege to Ukrainian CityChina Learns New Lessons From Russia-Ukraine War: ReportNATO Army Chief Sounds Alarm: 'The Threat Is Real'China's Military Presence Grows on Doorstep of New U.S. Partner 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Russia's Secret Nuclear Changes Revealed In 'Huge' Security Breach
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russia has been undertaking a large-scale modernization of its nuclear missile infrastructure for years, according to leaked classified documents cited in a media investigation. The German publication Der Spiegel and Danish investigative group Danwatch, said the secret files showed architectural plans, internal layouts, and procurement records for new military installations and the outlets published satellite imagery they say backs up their claims. The investigation did not clarify to what extent the inner workings of the constructions are as specified by the blueprints. Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) told Newsweek the documents cited by the outlets appear to be construction blueprints. Tom Røseth, a Norwegian military expert who saw some of the documents, told Newsweek their revelations represented "a huge breach of security" for Russia. Newsweek has not independently confirmed the investigation's claims and has contacted Russia's defense ministry for comment. This image from May 5, 2024 shows a Russian RS-24 Yars nuclear missile complex during military parade rehearsals in Red Square, Moscow. This image from May 5, 2024 shows a Russian RS-24 Yars nuclear missile complex during military parade rehearsals in Red Square, Moscow. Getty Images Why It Matters Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in 2018 the development of new nuclear weapons systems he said would put his country ahead in the arms race with the West. An investigation that says Russia was also conducting a large-scale modernization of the Russian nuclear weapons complex, which Putin did not mention, will add to concerns about the threat Moscow poses. This is salient given the boasts by the Kremlin and its propagandists of Russia's atomic arms capabilities since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. What To Know The investigation released on Wednesday and reported by Ukrainian outlets and BBC Russian, says Danwatch journalists had obtained more than two million documents concerning Russian military contracts, which were analyzed in collaboration with Der Spiegel. Although Russia tightened laws in 2020 restricting military records, the investigators said they bypassed these measures in 2024 to find blueprints revealing the layout of military sites with strategic nuclear weapons. The documents are said to reveal the modernization program, including renewing old Soviet-era bases and building other facilities from scratch. Images showed new barracks, guard towers, command centers, and storage buildings as well as underground tunnels, the journalists said. They also revealed internal layout of facilities where protective equipment is stored, locations of weapon cabinets and control rooms, and which buildings are connected by underground tunnels, the publications said. A major leak exposing Russian nuclear bases has been revealed by investigative journalists from Danwatch and Der Spiegel. The Russian facilities are in the Orenburg region, south of the Ural mountains and near the city of Yasny. The article shows even a fly-through of the… — (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) May 28, 2025 Who's going to tell Putin someone leaked his nuclear secrets online? Good work by Danwork and Der Spiegel to allow the world to see inside Russia's nuclear silos. It's partly 3D interactive so visit the site, but a few screenshots here — Tim White (@TWMCLtd) May 28, 2025 Journalists said the documents included blueprints of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces sites in the city of Yasny in the Orenburg region and detailed floor plans for facilities of the 621st and 368th missile regiments. The Yasny site is one of 11 locations from which missiles with nuclear warheads can be launched. The town hosts Russia's Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, according to the journalists. Experts estimate Russia has about 900 strategic nuclear warheads in underground silos. Kristensen, from the FAS, told Newsweek the documents appear to be construction blueprints which open a second layer to open-source intelligence and allow experts to combine satellite imagery observations with identified structures in the images. Røseth, associate professor in intelligence studies at the Norwegian Defence University College, said that while there was a small possibility it could be a disinformation campaign from Russia but the breach "appears to me very credible and the immense scope of it is impressive." "It reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the system," he told Newsweek Thursday, "and also details of the compounds and the nuclear silos." What People Are Saying Danwatch and Der Spiegel said they had "gained access to hundreds of highly detailed blueprints showing how Russia is carrying out an enormous modernization of some of the world's most sensitive nuclear weapons facilities." Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) to Newsweek: "The documents open a second layer to open-source intelligence by allowing us to combine satellite imagery observations with identified structures in the blueprints." Tom Røseth, associate professor in intelligence studies at the Norwegian Defence University College to Newsweek: "It's nothing new that you have weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the Russian information system that you can access … But these specific details of nuclear sites are of far more importance." What Happens Next The documents show the extent of Russia's modernization of its strategic nuclear weapons forces is real and will add resonance to any future nuclear threats that Moscow makes.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Russia Redeploys Nuclear-Tipped Air-to-Air Missiles in Echo of Cold War
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russia is adding nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles to its weapons inventory, according to the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The new missile is reminiscent of weapons used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, with the latest version designed to be used by Russia's MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment by email. Why It Matters The development comes as tensions between Russia and the West are at their highest level since the Cold War as a result of President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The War Zone, an online military magazine, notes that while nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were part of the Soviet Union's arsenal during the Cold War, little is known about their current status within Russia's Aerospace Forces (VKS), which "makes the disclosure from [the Defense Intelligence Agency] intelligence all the more intriguing." Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen in Sirius, Russia, on May 19, 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen in Sirius, Russia, on May 19, 2025. Contributor/Getty Images What To Know Hans Kristensen, the director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) think tank, said on X (formerly Twitter) that he'd heard rumors for years that Russia was redeploying nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles, but the "weapon was mysteriously not included in DOD pubs since 2018." The DIA's 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment, published on May 11 said Russia is "expanding its nuclear forces by adding new capabilities, including nuclear air-to-air missiles and novel nuclear systems." Nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were originally intended for use against formations of bombers during the Cold War. Such formations are not as relevant now "but not having to get within the blast-fragmentation range of a missile warhead to take down a target could be seen as advantageous in the modern era, possibly against stealthy aircraft that can be detected but are hard to lock up, especially by a small radar on a missile during its terminal attack phase," according to The War Zone. Another possibility is that nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles could be used to counter swarms of drones or waves of cruise missiles. Russia maintains a nuclear stockpile of about 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and up to 2,000 non-strategic warheads, the assessment said. Russia is expanding its nuclear posture to its neighbor and ally Belarus by establishing missile and nuclear-capable aircraft capabilities, renovating a nuclear weapons storage site, and training Belarusian crews to handle tactical nuclear weapons, the DIA said. "Throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia has used nuclearrelated rhetoric and military exercises to signal its resolve and deter Russia-perceived Western involvement in the conflict," it added. Russia has ramped up its nuclear threats throughout the war, with the most recent warning coming from Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council, in April. Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if it faces aggression from Western nations, he told Kremlin newswire Tass. Shoigu, who was replaced as defense minister in 2024 after holding the position for 12 years, cited amendments made to Russia's nuclear doctrine in November. He said it allows Russia to "use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against it or the Republic of Belarus, including with the use of conventional weapons." "In the event of foreign states committing unfriendly actions that pose a threat to the sovereignty and territory integrity of the Russian Federation, our country considers it legitimate to take symmetric and asymmetric measures necessary to suppress such actions and prevent their recurrence," Shoigu warned. The DIA report said, however, that Russia is very unlikely to use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war "unless Russian leadership judged it faced an existential threat to the regime." What People Are Saying Russian President Vladimir Putin said in December that the Kremlin reserves the right to use nuclear weapons against any country that poses a threat to Russia or Belarus. "When we are talking about certain military dangers that can develop into new threats, we are talking about increasing the responsibility of non-nuclear states that can participate in aggression against Russia, alongside nuclear-capable countries," he said. "And if such countries pose a threat to us, we reserve the right to use our nuclear weapons against them. "We have announced that if the same threats are made against our ally, Belarus, we will do everything to ensure the security of Belarus. And I think this is a very important component of the updated nuclear doctrine." What Happens Next Developments suggest Moscow could be gearing up for a potential face off with NATO. Russia is expanding its troop presence along stretches of its western border, ramping up its military spending at a record pace and intensifying covert operations against the West. Meanwhile, intelligence and military officials have warned that NATO member states must be ready for a potential conflict with Russia.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia Fielding New Nuclear-Armed Air-To-Air Missiles: U.S. Intel
Russia is introducing new nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles as part of an overall expansion of its nuclear forces, according to an assessment from the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, or DIA. While nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were part of the Soviet Union's arsenal during the Cold War, their current status within the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) is little-known, which makes the disclosure from this U.S. intelligence agency all the more intriguing. Since this is described as a new weapon, it's almost certainly a reference to a version of the R-37M, a very long-range air-to-air missile known to NATO as the AA-13 Axehead. The information is published in the DIA's unclassified 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment, presented to the Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations United States House of Representatives, and available online here. The air-to-air missiles reference was brought to our attention by Hans Kristensen, the director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) think tank. According to this report, 'Russia is expanding its nuclear forces by adding new capabilities, including nuclear air-to-air missiles and novel nuclear systems. Russia probably maintains a nuclear stockpile of about 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and up to 2,000 non-strategic warheads.' The same passage, which outlines Russia's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities, also highlights the establishment of nuclear-capable missiles and aircraft in Belarus, something you can read more about here. Sukhoi Su-35S fighter jet. R-37M long-range AAM. "bortzhyrnal". — Massimo Frantarelli (@MrFrantarelli) April 29, 2025 The report briefly describes Russia's use of nuclear-related rhetoric and military exercises in relation to the war in Ukraine, before noting that Moscow would be 'very unlikely to use nuclear weapons in the conflict unless Russian leadership judged it faced an existential threat to the regime.' Mention is also given to Russia's likely expansion of its chemical and biological warfare programs. However, the undisclosed type of nuclear-armed air-to-air missile is the only specific type of tactical (or strategic) weapon named as such in this section. The R-37M, a product of the Vympel missile design bureau, was developed for the MiG-31 Foxhound heavy interceptor before later being adopted for the Su-30SM and Su-35S Flanker multirole fighters, and the Su-57 Felon stealth fighter. Prior to the war in Ukraine, in which the R-37M has apparently been a notable threat to Ukrainian air operations, in-service examples of the weapon were very rarely seen. Speaking to TWZ before his death in a 2023 flying accident, Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot Andrii 'Juice' Pilshchykov said that the R-37M, typically fired from within Russian airspace, was 'limiting our capabilities to conduct our missions. Of course, if you're maneuvering, we are not able to provide an airstrike or something else, so the game is still very, very, very tough in the air and very, very risky. If you're not aware of the launch of a missile, you're dead.' Don't want to get into that med/high alt SAM envelope. — Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) November 1, 2022 The R-37M program dates back to the early 1990s when it began life as the R-37, intended to arm the Foxhound in its much-improved MiG-31M version. An example of the original missile, also known by the in-house designation izdeliye 610, was first launched from a MiG-31M in 1993, destroying an aerial target at a reported range of 142 miles. Tests of the missile were successfully completed early the following year, but the demise of the Soviet Union meant the improved MiG-31M was canceled as a cost-saving measure, together with its planned armament. However, with subsequent efforts to upgrade in-service Foxhounds to MiG-31BM standard, the program was revisited at the beginning of the 2000s. Development was now focused on the enhanced R-37M, or izdeliye 610M. The revised missile was first launched from a MiG-31 in 2011 and completed its service trials in early 2014 before entering production. The first operational unit began to receive R-37Ms in 2018. Weighing 1,124 pounds and 13 feet long, the R-37M is intended to engage targets at considerable range. This has led to suggestions that it might have been optimized to defeat airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft and other high-value assets. However, since the R-37M was developed to serve as the primary armament of the MiG-31 interceptor, it should be capable of engaging a wide range of targets, including low-flying cruise missiles. According to data from the manufacturer, the R-37M, at least in its RVV-BD export form, can defeat 'some types' of aerial targets at a range of up to 124 miles. The reference to 'some types' of targets likely indicates that only larger and less agile aircraft can be engaged at the outer edges of the missile's flight envelope. As always, such figures likely refer to missile performance in optimum conditions. In an operational context, they will vary greatly depending on the type of engagement and the energy and altitude state of the launching aircraft. By way of comparison, the MiG-31's original R-33 (AA-9 Amos) air-to-air missile can destroy targets out to a reported range of 68 miles. The furthest-flying in-service version of the U.S.-made AMRAAM, the AIM-120D, is thought to have a range of up to 100 miles, although official performance numbers are classified. Meanwhile, the appearance of the R-37M as well as various Chinese-made very long-range air-to-air missiles has prompted the United States to develop new weapons in this class as well, notably the AIM-260 and an air-launched version of the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6), designated the AIM-174B, the range of which is also classified but should be far in excess of the AIM-120D, likely at least double and possibly triple the range. Looking at the R-37M in detail, it is powered by a dual-pulse solid-propellant rocket motor, which propels it toward its target while the missile receives mid-course updates from the launch aircraft. During the terminal phase of the engagement, an onboard dual-band active radar seeker can reportedly lock on to a target with a 54-square-foot radar cross-section at 25 miles or more. Since a nuclear warhead is also available for the missile's predecessor, the R-33, it would make good sense that the R-37M is also capable of being armed with an alternative nuclear warhead, which would be better able to destroy larger formations of aircraft or missiles. The R-33S (the suffix denoting Spetsyalnaya, or special) reportedly entered service in 1991. A new and more powerful engine provided a range increase to a reported 87 miles. Examples of the R-33 were seen in footage of 'non-strategic nuclear forces' exercises released by the Russian Ministry of Defense in the summer of 2024, prompting speculation that the R-33S nuclear versions were on show, although this cannot be confirmed. As part of the same third stage exercises the #Russian air force practised mounting a R-33 missile with a #nuclear warhead to a MIG-31. — Ninjamonkey (@Aryan_warlord) August 2, 2024 Presuming the new missile mentioned by the DIA is a version of the R-37M, this and the older R-33S would be the only nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles in service anywhere in the world. Back in the Cold War, the U.S. Air Force also had a nuclear-tipped air-to-air missile, the GAR-11, later redesignated the AIM-26A, or 'Nuclear Falcon,' which carried a W54 warhead with a yield of 0.5 kilotons. The GAR-11 was the only guided nuclear-armed air-to-air missile ever deployed by the U.S. military, although the Air Force also received the nuclear-armed AIR-2 Genie unguided air-to-air rocket. Efforts to develop a version of the infrared-guided Sidewinder with a nuclear warhead were eventually abandoned, as you can read about here. Nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were originally intended to take out formations of bomber aircraft at the height of the Cold War. They were very much area-effect weapons. Today such bomber formations aren't as relevant, but not having to get within the blast-fragmentation range of a missile warhead to take down a target could be seen as advantageous in the modern era, possibly against stealthy aircraft that can be detected but are hard to lock up, especially by a small radar on a missile during its terminal attack phase. Swarms of drones and waves of cruise missiles are another possibility. Still, exactly what prompted Moscow to pursue such a capability now is unclear. While Russia is unlikely to reveal much in the way of information about its new nuclear-armed air-to-air missile, it is significant that it has been referred to specifically in the DIA's report. While the R-37M is, by all accounts, a very formidable long-range weapon, the apparent existence of a nuclear-tipped version is another complicating factor for any adversary and provides a capability likely unmatched by any contemporary air-to-air missile. Contact the author: thomas@
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
North Korea's Nuclear Missile Threat to US Homeland
The latest United States intelligence assessment warned that North Korea's nuclear missiles could overwhelm the defense system protecting the U.S. homeland within a decade. Newsweek has contacted the North Korean Embassy in China for comment by email. North Korea is one of nine countries armed with nuclear weapons, possessing an estimated 50 warheads in its arsenal. In October, it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which has a potential range of up to 9,320 miles-capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. The U.S. has established a missile defense system known as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) to intercept incoming North Korean ICBM nuclear warheads. The system consists of 64 interceptor silos spread across two military bases in Alaska and California. The assessment, provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency on Tuesday, comes as the Trump administration pushes for a U.S. version of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system-referred to as the "Golden Dome"-to defend against current and future aerial threats. The Defense Intelligence Agency said North Korea had successfully tested ballistic missiles with sufficient range to reach the entire U.S. homeland. "There is no part of the Homeland which cannot be struck by existing ICBMs," the Pentagon support agency added. North Korea possesses "10 or fewer" ground-based ICBMs, each with a range of more than 3,417 miles and capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, according to the assessment. However, that number is projected to increase sharply to 50 missiles by 2035. The assessment did not project the number of North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missiles, Hans Kristensen, a nuclear expert at the Federation of American Scientists, wrote on social media. In 2023, North Korea launched a submarine with the potential to fire nuclear-armed missiles. The projected increase in North Korean ICBMs poses a challenge to the GMD. The missile defense system has an "optimal engagement mode" of four interceptors per ICBM warhead, according to Ankit Panda, a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace nuclear analyst. In a congressional testimony in 2021, the analyst described North Korea's path to saturating the entire GMD as "eminently achievable." While the system could fire fewer interceptors at each incoming ICBM warhead, doing so would reduce its overall expected effectiveness. Fort Greely, which hosts the GMD interceptor silos in Alaska, conducted a simulated ICBM attack on the U.S. during Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll's visit in April. The secretary received a briefing on the GMD missile crew tactics, techniques and procedures. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said in a news release on Tuesday: "In the coming decade, missile threats to the U.S. Homeland from more advanced conventional- and nuclear-capable delivery systems will expand in scale and sophistication." Hans Kristensen, the director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, wrote on Bluesky on Wednesday: "Despite showing projected increases, many of the weapon types shown are not entirely new but are capabilities that the countries have had for many years, even decades." U.S. President Donald Trump said in an executive order issued in January: "The threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks, remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United States." It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will build additional interceptor silos to cope with the evolving ICBM threat from North Korea, which has vowed not to give up its nuclear arsenal. Related Articles US Ally Revives Aircraft Carrier Plan Amid North Korea ThreatUS Satellites Capture New North Korean Destroyer Under ConstructionPhotos Show Allied Jets Escorting US Bombers in New Frontline DrillsUS and Ally Stage Naval Drills in Warning to North Korea 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
