Russia Is Encouraged To Update Nuclear Shields Due To Large Threats

ILUSTRASI/Obviously Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/TASS

JAKARTA - Russia's nuclear shield is encouraged to be strengthened in the years to come given the "threats" facing the world's largest nuclear nation.

Russia and the United States are increasing their nuclear arsenal, including systems used to detect and intercept incoming nuclear missiles while China is increasing its own nuclear capabilities far beyond Britain and France.

"Now, in the current geopolitical situation, it is a period of colossal threat to the existence of our country. Therefore, the nuclear shield, which is also a sword, is a guarantee of our sovereignty," said the head of Russia's Nuclear Company.

Alexei Likhachev was reported by Reuters from the Russian government news agency, RIA, Thursday, August 21.

"We understand today that nuclear shields only need to be improved in the years to come," he continued.

Russia has about 4,300 nuclear warheads that have been stockpiled and deployed.

While the United States has about 3,700 warheads, or about 87% of the world's total inventory, according to research by the American Federation of Scientists.

US President Donald Trump in May announced plans to build a so-called "Golden Dome" missile defense shield, inspired by Israel's Iron Dome ground defense shield, which would cost at least $175 billion.

The US dome will aim to intercept a variety of missiles including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles and aim to block threats from Russia and China. However, military experts agree that no such shield can intercept all missiles, especially in the number that Moscow or Washington can launch.

While China is the third largest nuclear force in the world with about 600 warheads, followed by France with 290, UK with 225, India with 180, Pakistan with 170, Israel with 90, and North Korea with 50, according to the study.