Reports Estimate Russia’s Air, Missile Arsenal Strength
Reports Estimate Russia’s Air, Missile Arsenal Strength
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Key Points
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Foreign estimates place Russia’s RS-24 Yars force across seven missile divisions, with about 180 mobile and 40 silo-based launchers; the 12 Avangard complexes are reportedly deployed on UR-100N UTTH missiles.
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About 10 of Russia’s estimated 90 MiG-29 fighters are reportedly stationed outside the country, at bases in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. A Russian design engineer also said the MiG-35 could be used effectively against drones, despite being designed for a broader range of missions.
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The Su-34M is reportedly equipped with modernized avionics and can carry reconnaissance pods associated with the Sych research-and-development project. Claims that it can also launch Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles remain officially unconfirmed.
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Protective hangars have made strategic-aircraft inventories harder to verify by satellite. Military expert Stanislav Krapivnik said such structures were previously constrained by strategic-arms-reduction agreements requiring strategic aircraft to remain in the open, a condition reportedly no longer applicable as of Feb. 5, 2026.
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Western estimates put annual Kinzhal production at roughly 60 missiles, or about five per month, although Russia has not disclosed production figures or confirmed the missile’s characteristics. Open-source accounts identify the 9M723 aeroballistic missile used by the Iskander-M as its basis.
Foreign researchers estimate Russia's military arsenal includes at least 193 RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles and 12 Avangard hypersonic weapons, according to assessments cited by Tekhnosfera Rossiya. The same analysis suggests Russia operates roughly 120 long-range bombers and around 140 Su-34 attack aircraft, though Moscow keeps official figures classified and has not confirmed these claims.
These estimates come from open-source intelligence researchers examining satellite imagery and public records. Russia's protective hangars make verification difficult, and the country reveals little about its weapons production or deployment — meaning independent counts rely heavily on analysis rather than confirmed data.
Strategic Missiles: 193 Yars and Hypersonic Weapons
Foreign researchers place Russia's RS-24 Yars force across seven missile divisions. They estimate about 180 mobile launchers and 40 silo-based units, according to Tekhnosfera Rossiya. The 12 Avangard hypersonic complexes are reportedly deployed on older UR-100N UTTH missiles. Moscow has not released official numbers for either system.
Bomber Fleet and Fighter Squadron Strength
Russia's estimated 120 long-range bombers break down as roughly 53 Tu-95 turboprops, 18 Tu-160 supersonic jets, and 50 Tu-22M3 medium bombers. The Su-34 fleet is estimated at 140 aircraft, including about 50 modernized Su-34M variants with upgraded avionics and reconnaissance capability.
The fighter force includes approximately 124 MiG-31 interceptors, 24 MiG-31K variants capable of carrying Kinzhal missiles, at least six MiG-35s, and roughly 90 MiG-29s. About 10 MiG-29s are reportedly stationed abroad at bases in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, according to Tekhnosfera Rossiya.
Why Satellite Counting Now Works Better Than Before
Russia's protective hangars hide aircraft from overhead cameras, making satellite-based inventories harder to verify. Military expert Stanislav Krapivnik explained that strategic-arms-reduction agreements previously required Russia to keep strategic bombers in the open. That restriction ended February 5, 2026, allowing Russia to use hangars more freely.
This shift explains why older satellite imagery provided clearer counts of Russia's bomber fleet. Researchers now rely more on other intelligence methods and open-source analysis rather than direct observation of aircraft parked outside.
Kinzhal Missiles: 60 Per Year and Unclear Capabilities
Western estimates suggest Russia produces roughly 60 Kinzhal missiles annually — about five per month. The Su-34M reportedly carries Kinzhal weapons, though Russia has not officially confirmed this capability. Open-source accounts identify the aeroballistic 9M723 missile, which forms the Iskander-M system, as the basis for Kinzhal.
Moscow has never disclosed production figures or confirmed the missile's exact specifications. Kinzhal represents one of Russia's most advanced weapons, yet independent researchers cannot verify key details without official Russian statements or classified intelligence.
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