An unarmed AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile is released from a B-52H Stratofortress over the Utah Test and Training Range during a Nuclear Weapons System Evaluation Program sortie Sept. 22, 2014. Conducted by Airmen from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., the launch was part of an end-to-end operational evaluation of 8th Air Force and Task Force 204’s ability to pull an ALCM from storage, load it aboard an aircraft, execute a simulated combat mission tasking and successfully deliver the weapon from the aircraft to its final target. (File photo by Staff Sgt. Roidan Carlson)
By Dan Leone |
@Leone_EXM
1 year ago |
05/16/2023
highlights

The U.S. State Department released aggregate numbers of strategic offensive nuclear weapons on Monday, its obligation under the New START treaty, despite Russia’s refusal to participate further in the bilateral deal. 

“As a lawful countermeasure in response to the Russian Federation’s violation of its New START Treaty obligations, the United States did not provide its March data update to Russia,” the State Department said in a statement published online. “In the interest of transparency and the U.S. commitment to responsible nuclear conduct, the United States is voluntarily releasing aggregate data for its nuclear forces covered by the New START Treaty.”

The U.S. currently has a total of 662 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), sea-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), and deployed heavy bombers, according to a fact sheet accompanying the statement. There are a combined 1,419 warheads deployed on those delivery systems. The entire fleet of deployed and non-deployed launchers of ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers numbers 800, according to the State Department.

The data is current as of March 31, the State Department said. For each category, data from the Russian Federation reads “not provided.”

Russia announced Russian Federation announced a “unilateral and unjustified purported suspension of the Treaty on February 28,” the State Department said. “Subsequently, the Russian Federation did not fulfill its obligation to provide updated data in March 2023 and is not implementing other key provisions of the treaty. … The United States continues to view transparency among nuclear weapon states as extremely valuable for reducing the likelihood of misperception, miscalculation, and costly arms competitions.”

The State Department called on Russia to comply with its legally-binding obligations by returning to full implementation of the New START Treaty, including the transparency and verification requirements agreed to by both countries. 

This story first appeared in Defense Daily affiliate publication Weapons Complex Morning Briefing.