Putin Eyes 'High-Precision' Arms as Partial Nuclear-Weapons Alternative

Very telling. If this is where the Russian's thoughts are ... consider where the USA is now. Sorry I don't have a link for you.

By Diane Barnes, Global Security Newswire, December 3, 2013

WASHINGTON -- Advanced conventional weapons are emerging as an "equal" to atomic arms in their capacity to ward off aggression, underlining a need for Moscow to bolster its focus on their development, Russian President Vladimir Putin told senior officials in comments released last week.

Putin's remarks -- issued to a Kremlin gathering on the preparation of "long-range high-precision weapons" -- might partly refer to conventional "hypersonic" arms under development in Russia as a response to a "prompt global strike" capability sought by the United States. "High-precision weapons are becoming an increasingly important factor in non-nuclear deterrence, and perhaps even one of the most decisive factors," Putin said in a meeting transcript published last Friday.

A future long-range, rapid-strike capability has been seen by some in the United States as a partial alternative to nuclear weapons for hitting important time-sensitive targets. The capability sought by Washington could allow U.S. forces to conduct a non-nuclear strike against any location in the world in one hour or less.

Russia is just in a bad spot. Always playing catch up with the US with miitary tech, unable to build weapons they develop properly in any number, needing the French to build them ships and the Israelis for their drones, no power projection, a rising China on one norder and NATO/EU on the other, no longer can depend on out numbering threats, losing influence along it own borders, its military racked by corruption and desertions, brewing insurgencies along its southern borders etc.

The Russians have tried military refroms a couple of times now but, failed do to wide spread corruption. Russias nukes and Security Council seat are what it clings to as a claim to a great power. Eveytime the US works on a anti missle system or alternative to nukes weapons system it freaks them out. What Russia needs is a strong leader who is willing to clean up the corruption so Russias military can be reformed, so that money supposed to go to the military does and so Russia can rebuild its defense industry for advanced weapons. Putins problems is it is his cronies who help him keep power are the same people responsible to for the corruption wrecking the military.

MrSpad
Putins problems is it is his cronies who help him keep power are the same people responsible to for the corruption wrecking the military.

And that is a strategy right out of the Reagan Era play book. A successful strategy, mind you. Putin has diligently efforted the foundations of a new power base. We've seen him take the legs out from under other unsubscribed power players.

The Russian intelligence apparatus is second only to the Mossad, though some could successfully argue that statement is backwards. The Chinese are adept at fulfilling many of their collection goals. I mention these three, as the usefulness of their gains each meet a unique and specific goal. The outcome with the longest legs seemingly belongs to the Russians. I don't feel comfortable discussing specifics.

Sometimes the Russians appear to be a step or two ahead of us. Either their programs are well-funded, they keep better R&D secrets than we do, or we're working together. I heard a saber rattling a couple of months ago and got the distinct impression it was the former two ... of course, that might have been intent, not reality (which is usually a Chinese specialty). Either way, they have some technologies that rival or exceed our own. The Russians know more about US capabilities than most of us.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.
-Cheers