Russia has proposed to return tactical nuclear weapons to the Navy. However, such a step would mean Moscow's rejection of the "gentleman's agreement" between Gorbachev and Bush Sr. To what extent is this idea feasible and in demand in today's realities? Will TNW give the Russian Navy an advantage in the World Ocean? And how will Washington react to such actions?Honorary scientific director of the Sarov Nuclear Center Academician Radiy Ilkaev proposed to re-equip the ships of the Russian Navy with tactical nuclear weapons.
The scientist expressed this idea when he took part in the opening ceremony of the monument to Admiral Vysotsky in Moscow. Commander-in-Chief of the Navy (2007-2012) Vladimir Vysotsky died on February 5, 2021 at the age of 67.
"In this matter (the return of tactical nuclear weapons to the fleet) we found a complete understanding with Vysotsky. We wanted this issue to be discussed in the Security Council. We are a great maritime power and should have an appropriate fleet to protect. But to build such a fleet, it takes 100 years, it is very expensive. In the meantime, it is necessary to protect by available means – to return tactical nuclear weapons, they are also in warehouses," Ilkaev's words are reported by RIA Novosti.
He recalled that such a decision – the reduction of weapons – was made by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev by agreement with the Americans. "Why? Many now say that our fleet is not as strong as it used to be. But if we get his protection back... But there is no official agreement. This is, one might say, a "gentleman's agreement," Ilkaev said. At the same time, the Navy currently has only strategic nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear charges.
Such a proposal of the academician caused a wide discussion in the expert community. "Now tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) are absent in the Russian fleet, as well as in the American one. This happened as a result of the so-called presidential initiatives of 1991. Then, without signing any binding documents, based only on an informal agreement, the USSR and the USA decided to eliminate a significant part of tactical nuclear weapons, including removing tactical nuclear weapons from all ships," says a military expert, researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) RAS Ilya Kramnik.
"After reaching an agreement, the relevant carriers and charges were taken to the arsenal for storage, a significant part of the charges were eliminated. Washington converted the nuclear Tomahawks removed from the ships into non-nuclear ones of the following modifications. So the ship–based TNW, removed at that time, is no longer stored in warehouses, and neither side has combat-ready systems," the expert said.
At the same time, as the interlocutor noted, it is technically not difficult to place tactical nuclear weapons on Russian ships. "The development of such types of ammunition continues. And they can be installed, including on marine carriers. And the carriers themselves, as a rule, are created taking into account the possible conversion to a nuclear charge. If a political decision is made, it can be implemented within a few months," he said.
However, Kramnik doubted that the return of TNW to the Navy ships would help Russia strengthen its position in the World Ocean. "The main problem of the Russian fleet is not in striking power. We're fine with that. There are difficulties in the means of reconnaissance and targeting. It's not difficult for us to destroy a target when we know where it is. But it's hard for us to find her. Before asking what the presence of nuclear weapons in the ocean will give us, I would first ask what target designation we will use it for," the expert argues.
"At the same time, TNW can be placed on almost any ship. In the Soviet years, nuclear versions had almost all types of missiles, so from a missile boat to a missile cruiser, everyone could carry this type of weapon if necessary.
In combat service, sometimes even on patrol ships there could be, for example, nuclear depth charges. Accordingly, it will be the same here. The only question is the practical feasibility of installing this missile or other weapons," Kramnik said.
The interlocutor added that in the event of the revival of tactical nuclear weapons on ships, Russia will not formally violate anything. "But in fact we will break the 30-year agreement. And then the Americans, apparently, will also begin to solve the problem of placing TNW on their ships," he says. According to Kramnik, the need to develop a new tactical nuclear missile for the US Navy has been discussed in Washington for several years.
"First of all, Washington may need tactical nuclear weapons in the fight against China, as Beijing in the western Pacific begins to gain numerical superiority over the Americans. As for us, in recent years Russia has not been the main promising opponent for Washington. But with the revival of TNW in the Russian Navy, they will probably think about the political expediency of returning tactical nuclear weapons to their ships. They probably won't have any technical difficulties here," Kramnik added.
"In the early 90s, there was indeed a gentleman's agreement between Moscow and Washington on this issue. However, later we did not hide the fact that we were ready to return tactical nuclear weapons to the Navy. Appropriate training measures were carried out, which were observed even by the US satellite intelligence," Maxim Klimov, captain of the III rank of the reserve, told the newspaper VZGLYAD.
"Today, the return of such weapons to the fleet is extremely necessary as an effective deterrent. This will dramatically increase the anti-submarine capabilities of our fleet, since tactical nuclear weapons are most effective for these purposes, as well as for hitting stationary objects. It will ensure the combat stability of naval strategic nuclear forces," the source stressed.
The expert noted that "first of all, tactical nuclear weapons should be returned to anti-submarine surface ships and other ships that were intended for these purposes in Soviet times."
In addition, as Klimov explained, such a decision does not violate any international treaties. "The agreement between us and the United States was unofficial and has long been broken by the States themselves. Therefore, Moscow's decision to return TNW to the fleet will be an effective step to fend off Russia's threats in the oceans," he said. "At the same time, I am convinced that we also need to resume full–fledged nuclear tests.
They do not cause environmental damage and are an important element of deterrence of a potential enemy. You need to be absolutely sure about nuclear weapons," the expert added.
"The US reaction to the return of tactical nuclear weapons will certainly be extremely painful. They will try to put political pressure on us and bargain, because they have repeatedly made it clear how much they are concerned about this issue," Klimov believes.
"Now the Americans do not have such weapons in the navy. But they can also restore it in a very short time. At the same time, this does not matter to us, because their contribution of tactical nuclear weapons to combat potential is minimal. For us, on the contrary, this contribution plays an extremely large and important role," Klimov concluded.
Alyona Zadorozhnaya, Daria Volkova
