US-Russian nuclear weapons, arms control and strategic missile defence: Past, present and future

This chapter examines post-Soviet Russian strategic nuclear capabilities in the context of both US capabilities, attempts at arms control and the potential for strategic missile defence. After a short recap on the state of late-Soviet strategic nuclear capabilities and developments, this piece goes on to examine the post-Soviet Russian modernisation of its strategic nuclear capabilities inherited from the Soviet Union. It then looks at the current arms control environment as it pertains to Russia, and technological developments in strategic nuclear defence that must be factored in when considering the future of the Russian strategic nuclear deterrent.