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In recent years, Russia—amid a forced crisis involving Ukraine and growing threats from Western countries and NATO—has increasingly focused on the development of a multi-layered, multi-domain arsenal. This includes land, naval, air, and even space-based weapon systems. The core of this doctrine is adaptation: aligning Russia’s military posture with future battlefield realities while enhancing strategic deterrence against NATO.
Within this framework, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the drafting of a new long-term state armament program aimed at modernizing the country’s military arsenal and expanding a wide spectrum of weapon systems, with particular emphasis on advanced technologies. Earlier, Putin had also announced that a new generation of Russian weapons would be unveiled in the near future. In this regard, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov confirmed the finalization of the state weapons development program for the 2027–2036 period, noting that it is built upon several core pillars. These include strategic nuclear weapons, space capabilities, air and missile defense systems, electronic warfare, unmanned and robotic platforms, and weapons based on emerging and cutting-edge technologies.
A central feature of Moscow’s new armament program is the prioritization of ballistic and hypersonic missile systems. Through these weapons, the Kremlin seeks to enhance its ability to penetrate Western defensive layers and thereby preserve its strategic deterrence. One notable example is the RS-28 *Sarmat*, a super-heavy intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying various advanced warheads. The *Sarmat* is believed to have replaced the R-36M in Russia’s arsenal and is regarded as one of the country’s most critical strategic weapons. In 2023, it became operational as the most powerful ICBM system currently deployed anywhere in the world.
Alongside *Sarmat*, hypersonic systems such as *Avangard* and *Oreshnik* occupy a prominent position in Russia’s weapons development strategy. The *Avangard* hypersonic glide vehicle is capable of reaching speeds close to Mach 30—traveling roughly 1,000 kilometers in under two minutes. Meanwhile, Russia’s development of *Oreshnik* hypersonic missiles is aimed at further increasing penetration capabilities and reducing response times through deployment at strategically advantageous locations.
At the same time, Moscow has strengthened its air and missile defense posture by deploying advanced anti-ballistic systems, most notably the S-500. This system, capable of simultaneously engaging ballistic missiles, advanced aerial targets, and even space-based threats, forms the backbone of Russia’s layered defense architecture. Due to its ability to intercept threats at altitudes far exceeding the operational range of most conventional air defense systems, the S-500 is often described as a “space defense” system. With a detection range of up to 800 kilometers, it provides a reliable shield for strategic installations and major urban centers against a wide array of aerial threats.
On another front, Russia has made extensive investments in electronic warfare. By disrupting GPS signals, targeting enemy command-and-control systems, and interfering with communications networks, Moscow seeks to degrade the effectiveness of precision-guided and network-centric weapons employed by its rivals. Known as Electronic Countermeasures (ECM), this approach focuses on disrupting global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), thereby protecting strategic assets from GPS-guided munitions.
Concurrently, the Kremlin is rapidly advancing its space and anti-satellite weapon capabilities. Through the development of Anti-Satellite (ASAT) systems, Russia aims to fundamentally challenge the military technologies of its competitors. These efforts reflect Moscow’s perception of future warfare, where outer space will represent a decisive domain. Recent reports from intelligence services of NATO member states regarding the development of a new Russian anti-satellite weapon have raised significant concern across the Western bloc.
Russia’s state armament program emphasizes increasing the share of modern, intelligent, and network-centric weapons throughout the 2030s. Its primary objective is the modernization of Russia’s military arsenal and the preservation of a relative strategic edge over NATO. Russia has become the first country to simultaneously operationalize hypersonic weapons, advanced ballistic missiles, next-generation layered air and missile defense systems, space and anti-satellite capabilities, and practical electronic warfare—collectively forming the pillars of its strategic deterrence against the West, particularly NATO.
According to experts, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent disruption of the balance of power—during which Russia lagged behind Western states, especially the United States—Russian policymakers identified comprehensive weapons and missile development, particularly hypersonic systems, as the most effective path toward restoring military credibility, modernizing the arsenal, and rebuilding strategic deterrence.
Today, Russia’s comprehensive weapons development program is reshaping global military strategies. In response to escalating geopolitical challenges, Moscow is actively seeking to contain Western military and space power while maintaining a relative advantage over NATO. With its expanding deterrent capabilities, Russia increasingly appears poised to emerge as a uniquely formidable rival to the world’s leading powers.
Translated by Ashraf Hemmati from the original Persian article written by Navid Daneshvar
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[1] https://tvpworld.com/90692503/russia-developing-anti-satellite-system-against-musks-starlink
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