HC Deb 07 March 1989 vol 148 cc513-4W
63. Mr. Moss

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to whether the Soviets are continuing to modernise their strategic nuclear forces.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Soviet Union continues to modernise its strategic nuclear forces. On land an additional 200 SS-25 inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are expected to become operational within two or three years. The ten-warhead SS-24 ICBM has been deployed, both in silos and on rail-mobile launchers, and a modified version of the SS-18 heavy ICBM is entering service. At sea, five Typhoon and four Delta IV nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), carrying the multiple-warhead SS-N-20 and SS-N-23 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), are now operational, and a fifth Delta IV began sea trials during 1988. The SS-N-21 sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM) is now operational.

In the air, a new strategic bomber, the Blackjack, has entered service; it can carry the AS-15 air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) as well as bombs and air-to-surface missiles. The AS-15 entered service in 1984 and is already deployed on the Bear H bomber, of which 70 are operational.