German experts: Nearly all Putin’s weapons still on drawing board
Germany’s Federal Academy for Security Policy has analyzed the capabilities of the Russian army.
According to Deutche Welle, following the poisoning of former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal in the UK, Germany has begun talking about “the threat of a real war, not a cold war”.
Out of all the new strategic weapons showcased by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Berlin believes that the RS-28 Sarmat inter-continental ballistic missile is the only item which really exists at present. The missile can carry 10 to 24 warheads, and is intended to be an improvement of the R-36M model. It has a range of 11,000 kilometers, which would enable it to reach US territory.
All of the other weapons presented by Putin are “by and large still on the drawing board,” the experts believe.
With respect to military equipment, the T14 Armata tank is supposed to become Russia’s primary combat vehicle. However, there are plans to produce only 120 of the tanks, which will be enough for two battalions at most.
For Russia’s Navy “the situation is not much better”. Out of the eight Borei-class strategic submarines, only three are currently under construction. The new Husky-class submarines will only begin to replace the Soviet models in 2025.
The helicopter carrier, which Russia will produce itself following the disruption of the French Mistral deal, will join the fleet no earlier than 2026. The Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate will only begin to undergo testing this year.
After the elections, Putin announced a reduction in the expenditure on defense, and in the coming years it will grow by a maximum of 26-36%, the German experts observe.