December 17 marks the day of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces that were established 58 years ago. The forces are aimed at the nuclear deterrence of possible aggression. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the strategic missile systems developed in Russia are unique and have no analogues in the world. The main weapons of the Strategic Missile Forces include all Russian ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles with mobile and silo-based nuclear warheads.
© Sputnik / I. Baskakov / Go to the mediabankThe Strategic Missile Forces are a component of the Russian "nuclear triad" that also includes strategic aviation and the strategic Naval Forces.
Photo: A SS-20 ballistic missile of the Strategic Missile Forces.
Photo: A SS-20 ballistic missile of the Strategic Missile Forces.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/21/1060072123_0:0:2076:2048_600x0_80_0_1_5f7d74075547be7413011a330ae74cc0.jpg)
The Strategic Missile Forces are a component of the Russian "nuclear triad" that also includes strategic aviation and the strategic Naval Forces.
Photo: A SS-20 ballistic missile of the Strategic Missile Forces.
Photo: A SS-20 ballistic missile of the Strategic Missile Forces.
© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankGround-based ICBMs are the main weapons of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces.
Photo: The RT-2PM Topol ballistic missile riding to the site of its permanent deployment with the Strategic Missile Forces of the Central Military District.
Photo: The RT-2PM Topol ballistic missile riding to the site of its permanent deployment with the Strategic Missile Forces of the Central Military District.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/22/1060072204_0:0:3072:2048_600x0_80_0_1_7264f009981b9df1e01b336f5b342c22.jpg)
Ground-based ICBMs are the main weapons of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces.
Photo: The RT-2PM Topol ballistic missile riding to the site of its permanent deployment with the Strategic Missile Forces of the Central Military District.
Photo: The RT-2PM Topol ballistic missile riding to the site of its permanent deployment with the Strategic Missile Forces of the Central Military District.
© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankThe Strategic Missile Forces are directly under the command of the Russian General Staff.
Photo: A radio operator of the Novosibirsk Missile Formation at a mobile post.
Photo: A radio operator of the Novosibirsk Missile Formation at a mobile post.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/20/1060072032_0:0:2907:2048_600x0_80_0_1_ed7e35536e024236996adab3e76cfad0.jpg)
The Strategic Missile Forces are directly under the command of the Russian General Staff.
Photo: A radio operator of the Novosibirsk Missile Formation at a mobile post.
Photo: A radio operator of the Novosibirsk Missile Formation at a mobile post.
© Sputnik / Alexander Vilf / Go to the mediabankPhoto: Currently only three countries (Russia, the US and China) possess a full-fledged "nuclear triad."
The RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile during the military parade marking the 72nd anniversary of Victory in the 1941-45 Great Patriotic War on Red Square, Moscow.
The RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile during the military parade marking the 72nd anniversary of Victory in the 1941-45 Great Patriotic War on Red Square, Moscow.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/25/1060072534_0:0:2848:2048_600x0_80_0_1_376f7c97dadee1a0164744b7aeb64bcd.jpg)
Photo: Currently only three countries (Russia, the US and China) possess a full-fledged "nuclear triad."
The RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile during the military parade marking the 72nd anniversary of Victory in the 1941-45 Great Patriotic War on Red Square, Moscow.
The RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile during the military parade marking the 72nd anniversary of Victory in the 1941-45 Great Patriotic War on Red Square, Moscow.
© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankSoldiers of the Novosibirsk air defense division during drills to train counteracting the enemy's diversion groups, in the Novosibirsk Region.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/19/1060071969_0:0:3072:2048_600x0_80_0_1_da2ce5585b4b5eb7e2c5a6934913d38f.jpg)
Soldiers of the Novosibirsk air defense division during drills to train counteracting the enemy's diversion groups, in the Novosibirsk Region.
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankThe Museum of Strategic Missile Forces based on the territory of Strategic Missile Forces' training regiment in the town of Balabanov, Kaluga region.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/27/1060072765_0:0:2820:2048_600x0_80_0_1_f62661d5ec81b2fbd90910843fbda1ba.jpg)
The Museum of Strategic Missile Forces based on the territory of Strategic Missile Forces' training regiment in the town of Balabanov, Kaluga region.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresenskiy / Go to the mediabankParticipants in the national professional contest "Makeup under Camouflage" for female troops at the Russian Strategic Missile Force training center in Pereslavl-Zalessky.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/30/1060073063_0:0:3076:2048_600x0_80_0_1_30452ccf2cae0c0d2f2ad91fc1d095a3.jpg)
Participants in the national professional contest "Makeup under Camouflage" for female troops at the Russian Strategic Missile Force training center in Pereslavl-Zalessky.
© Sputnik / Sergey Kazak / Go to the mediabankThe launch of the RS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile from the Baikonur space center.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/29/1060072972_0:0:1536:2048_600x0_80_0_1_8970febefb2723bbcb663c86ceaa5e00.jpg)
The launch of the RS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile from the Baikonur space center.
© Sputnik / Sergey Subbotin / Go to the mediabankA strategic missile rolling through Red Square on November 11, 1965.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/28/1060072860_0:0:3000:1932_600x0_80_0_1_413c434d9e995bb2a4691b031195f889.jpg)
A strategic missile rolling through Red Square on November 11, 1965.
© Sputnik / Prihodko / Go to the mediabankUnits of the Strategic Rocket Troops parading on Red Square on May 1, 1967.
![The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces The Backbone of Russia's 'Nuclear Triad': Strategic Missile Forces - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106007/31/1060073122_0:0:1992:3000_600x0_80_0_1_afe252ead2a81a65a83a4a9cf3b0cb30.jpg)
Units of the Strategic Rocket Troops parading on Red Square on May 1, 1967.