As Western partners offer further military backing for Ukraine, top Russian officials unveiled a plan to strengthen their military capabilities by 2023 by deploying a variety of sophisticated weaponry.
In the midst of severe combat in eastern Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu declared on January 10 that the country’s armament would be expanded, aviation technology would be improved, and aircraft manufacturing would be increased (UAV).
Previously, President Vladimir Putin directed Minister Shoigu to provide a detailed report on the weaponry and equipment supplied to military units, as well as ideas to boost the Ministry of Defense’s actions.
The order was issued following a string of significant Russian military losses on the battlefield.
In recent military aid packages, NATO countries have vowed to strengthen Ukraine’s weaponry, making increasing military readiness an essential problem for Russia. NATO’s military assistance, which began in February 2022, is currently comparable to Russia’s defence expenditure for 2022.
President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of Russia’s defence sector during his visit to the Tula arms production hub.
“The military-industrial complex’s most essential responsibility is to deliver units and front-line forces with everything they need: weapons, ammo, and equipment in the needed amount and quality in the shortest feasible time,” Putin stated.
4 submarines, 12 surface ships and hypersonic missiles
According to the Ministry of Defense’s official release, Russia’s TASS news agency has published a complete list of modern weapons systems that will enter service with the army in 2023. This list comprises Russian strategic troops with nuclear capabilities as well as equipment for all three services.
The Russian Defense Ministry also said that it will enhance the supply of Kinzhal and Zircon high-precision hypersonic missile systems, and continue to work on other “promising types”.
This comes as no surprise to Ukraine or Western countries, given that Russia utilised Kinzhal hypersonic missiles during its military operation in Ukraine in 2022.
Furthermore, multiple MiG-31K planes equipped with hypersonic missiles were seen entering and leaving Belarus few months ago.
The Russian Ministry of Defense recently deployed the Zircon hypersonic missile on the Admiral Gorshkov ship. The ship has also set sail for the Atlantic Ocean.
Western military experts and officials perceive Russia’s hypersonic weapons as a display of might.
This year, the Russian Navy is planned to receive four submarines and twelve surface ships. Under addition, based on existing brigades, Russia will establish five marine infantry divisions in the Navy’s Coast Guard.
Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, published a plan for the new year at the end of December, declaring: “In 2023, the Navy will face critical and large-scale tasks, including The priority goal is to provide the Navy with the strategic cruiser Emperor Alexander III, four submarines, twelve surface ships, and support ships.
The most important of these is the nuclear-capable Emperor Alexander III of the Borei-A class, which is projected to serve as the backbone of Russia’s strategic maritime nuclear capacity. The main armament of the ship consists of 16 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles. Borei-A submarines are equipped with weapons control systems, mobility, deep sea operations, and exceptional stealth characteristics.
Continue to strengthen the Nuclear Trio
Nuclear submarines are also part of Russia’s nuclear triad, which it has committed to strengthen by 2023.
“We will continue to strengthen the nuclear triad and maintain combat readiness since the nuclear shield remains the primary guarantee of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Defense Minister Shoigu emphasised.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian military will receive approximately 22 launchers containing intercontinental ballistic missiles Yars, Avangard, and Sarmat, three aircraft carrying strategic missiles Tu-160, and the nuclear submarine Emperor Alexander III from the Russian Navy Borei-A project in 2023.
Following a successful test, the RS-28 Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) commenced mass production in November 2022. The RS-28 Sarmat missile is expected to boost the Russian army’s combat capabilities over the next 40-50 years and become the primary method of nuclear deterrent.
In another step, the Russian Defense Ministry produced a film in December 2022 depicting the installation of Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in a bunker.
Similarly, the Russian Defense Ministry released a video depicting the loading of an Avangard hypersonic missile into a silo.
According to earlier reports, Russia’s strategic nuclear forces have received 91.3% of sophisticated equipment. When the Tu-160M improved version of the aircraft carrying nuclear missiles goes into service, it will help increase this ratio. The Tu-160M bomber prototype has completed its second flight test and will now go through Ministry of Defense testing.
This advancement comes a year after the Tu-160M flew for the first time in January 2022. The Tu-160M is an improved Tu-160 bomber. According to Russian media, the Tu-160M is the largest military supersonic aircraft currently in service, and the programme to put the bomber into service is anticipated to last until 2027.
