Some of you might have noticed a claim by Almaz-Antey head Yan Novikov that X-37B can carry up to 3 ("smaller one") or 6 ("bigger one") nuclear warheads: ria.ru/20210522/x-37-…

I've decided to watch a full speech...and now I have mixed feelings.

1/
It can be found here: marathon.znanierussia.ru
(but the interface is not very intuitive).

2/ Image
I've made some screenshots with his slides (sorry for the quality). HTV-2 and X-51A remain quite popular within the Russian military industry...but X-37B hype is unmatched, unexpectedly.

3/ ImageImageImage
But he acknowledged that traditional cruise missiles are way more important. UAVs as well. Still, main trends are increased speed and stealth. And integration. Russia also has this stuff, but we also need to invest in defense.

4/ ImageImageImage
Because there are plenty of external and internal factors increasing the role of Air-Space Defense!

Note that part on a possibility of ASD systems use as an extra strike systems capability, as well as strike systems employment as a part of ASD.

5/ ImageImageImage
Main tech, superiority or equality in which makes balance possible:
- hypersonic flight vehicles (materials and communications)
- directed energy weapons
- systems integration
- ICT
- EW and cyber
- UAV
- Stealth

6/ Image
Early warning, multifunctional radars, missiles.

("almost got fired because of Poliment-Redut issues")

7/ ImageImageImageImage
Air/Missile defense systems are capable of hitting anything.

Future: integration, integration, integration.

8/ ImageImageImage
Layered air-space defense ("everyone is doing it")
(note counterspace capabilities)

Early warning contibutes to strategic deterrence...but it would be nice to be capable to hit some incoming stuff too.

(sad that last slide wasn't shown properly).

9/ ImageImageImageImage
Looks like they know how to overhype, but also how to intercept.
Still, there is respect towards peers (i.e. "...Americans are behind us in Air defense because they did not need to focus on it, unlike missile defenses, where we are trying to catch up...").

10/10

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More from @KomissarWhipla

25 May
We have a new 3-day series of defense-focused meetings held by Putin in Sochi. Today the focus is long-term development, and we learned that:
- Nuclear triad capabilities have been enhanced
- S-500 tests nearing completion
- armed forces carried out everything planned for 2020
We have a readout: kremlin.ru/events/preside…

- Kalibr-armed ships contribute to the expansion of the Navy capabilities
- Tsirkon mentioned as explicitly ship-based system, final stages of state trials
- 70+% of Air-Space Forces Air Defense rgts re-armed w/ S-400

2/
- S-500 trials are being succesfully completed, deliveries to the forces to start soon
- risks and military threats are present, so refinement. development and re-armament of the armed forces will continue
- military industry and design bureaues will receive support

3/
Read 6 tweets
24 May
Patrushev held talks with Sullivan in Geneva today. "Important step towards Presidential Summit". Image
Fun fact: Yang Jiechi is in Moscow for the 16th round of RU-CN "Strategic Security" talks tomorrow. tass.ru/politika/11451…
Official release on Patrushev-Sullivan "consultations" in Geneva today: scrf.gov.ru/news/allnews/2…
- a "logical continuation" of Lavrov-Blinken talks on May 19
- important milestone toward Presidential Summit
- "constructive", disagreements remain, but...
Read 4 tweets
24 May
Unbelievable, we have #NewSTART figures on the MFA website: mid.ru/web/guest/maps…

...as well as traditional concerns on 56 Trident-II launch tubes, 41 'non-nuclear' B-52H heavy bombers and 4 MM-III "training silos". So +101 deployed and non-deployed launchers. Image
I hope that over the next five years we'll see such releases on a regular basis, and those will become more Russia-focused.
And, of course, the US should be proactive regarding Russian concerns with #NewSTART implementation.
Read 4 tweets
21 Apr
First Sarmat regiment by the end of 2022.
Number of Kinzhal and Kalibr carriers being increased, Tsirkon will complete tests very soon.
Read 7 tweets
19 Apr
Nice Kh-555(?) footage from recent Tu-160 and Tu-95MS exercise with practical launches: ImageImageImage
Also, a reminder that salvo from Engels bombers against targets in Europe will be much more impressive and devastating than any fictional 9M729s from "West of Urals".
On a second thought, those are rather inert Kh-55SM, as there are no "nose wings" which are used in conventional Kh-555, presumably to compensate weight difference between nuclear and non-nuclear payloads. Image
Read 4 tweets
21 Mar
Not that I was asked, but I have some prepared points on Russian missile defense and can't keep myself silent.

Mega-thread incoming!

(Also expect some crazy schemes)

1/
A disclaimer: unlike the US we do not have a Missile Defense Agency, but what we have is a concept of joint Air-Space defense, which includes air defense, missile defense, space forces, early warning, and Moscow ABM system, among others.

2/
In terms of strike systems we have upgraded interceptor for the Moscow ABM system, and future S-500 and Nudol’ mobile surface-to-air missiles, with the latter, per some sources, having a rather serious ASAT capability as well (which is not that surprising).

3/
Read 11 tweets

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