Russia's Nuclear Capabilities - A Basic Security Policy in a Complex Technological Age

Having inherited the Soviet Union’s large arsenal of nuclear weapons, Russia has always enjoyed considerable power within the nuclear domain. This chapter provides an analysis of the development of Russia’s nuclear capacities and strategic-operational thinking. Following a short introduction to the chapter’s organising theory and method, a short introductory overview is provided on existing research into Russian nuclear capabilities. With a view to giving the reader the best possible context for understanding Russia as a nuclear power, the ensuing section outlines the evolution of Soviet nuclear weapons development and strategic-operational thinking, as this constitutes the logical steppingstone to Russia’s nuclear weapons policies today. Having thus established the basic context, Russian military doctrine and the precise constituent elements of the strategic arsenal are then subject to deeper inquiry and analysis. The final conclusion offers an overall perspective on the development in Russian strategic thinking and its weapons-technological developments.