December 17: Russia Marks Strategic Rocket Forces Day, the Backbone of Nuclear Deterrence

Every year on December 17, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation commemorate the Strategic Rocket Forces Day, a memorial date established by Presidential Decree No. 549 of May 31, 2006, "On the Establishment of Professional Holidays and Memorial Days in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” The day was first recognized as a professional military holiday in 1995.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by Vitaly V. Kuzmin, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

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Birth of the Strategic Rocket Forces

The Strategic Rocket Forces were officially created on December 17, 1959, by decision of the government of the Soviet Union. They were entrusted with the operation of ballistic missile systems in peacetime and the preparation and execution of missile launches in the event of war.

The material foundation for the creation of these forces emerged in the 1940s with the development of Soviet rocketry as a new branch of the defense industry. The first missile unit, a special-purpose brigade of the Supreme High Command Reserve, was formed in July 1946. This was followed by the development of the first nuclear weapons and guided ballistic missiles, and the deployment of missile formations capable of solving complex military tasks.

Formation as an Independent Branch

By the end of 1959, the Soviet Armed Forces included one intercontinental missile formation, several engineering brigades, and more than twenty engineering regiments equipped with medium-range missiles. The growing scale and strategic importance of these weapons made centralized command essential, leading to the establishment of the Strategic Rocket Forces as a separate branch of the Armed Forces.

In subsequent decades, both the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of missile systems steadily improved. Missile complexes capable of operating across multiple theaters of military operations were developed, alongside a continuous system of personnel training.

Reforms and Modern Structure

In 1997, the Strategic Rocket Forces were temporarily merged with the Military Space Forces and missile and space defense units into a single branch. However, in June 2001, the forces were reorganized again into two distinct branches: the Strategic Rocket Forces and the Space Forces. Today, Space Forces Day is celebrated separately on October 4.

At present, the Strategic Rocket Forces remain an independent branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and represent the main component of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces.

Mission and Capabilities

The primary mission of the Strategic Rocket Forces is nuclear deterrence, preventing potential aggression by guaranteeing a devastating retaliatory strike. The forces are capable of delivering massive, group, or single missile-nuclear strikes against strategic targets located along one or multiple aerospace directions.

They maintain constant combat readiness and operate all Russian land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, including both silo-based and mobile systems equipped with nuclear warheads. These missile systems belong to the fourth and fifth generations of strategic weapons.

Infrastructure and Personnel

The Strategic Rocket Forces consist of missile armies and military units, as well as test ranges, cosmodromes, research institutions, higher military educational establishments, training centers, arsenals, and repair facilities. This extensive infrastructure ensures uninterrupted readiness and technological modernization.

Development Strategy

The current development strategy focuses on maintaining combat readiness, extending the service life of existing missile systems, improving command-and-control capabilities, and increasing the share of mobile missile complexes capable of overcoming modern and future missile defense systems.

Ongoing modernization efforts ensure that the Strategic Rocket Forces can reliably fulfill their deterrence mission. The presence of advanced missile systems of various basing types guarantees the protection of national sovereignty.

The effectiveness of Russia's strategic deterrence relies not only on technology, but also on the professionalism and constant readiness of the service members who stand combat duty every day.

For the personnel of the Strategic Rocket Forces, December 17 is not only a commemorative date, but a reminder of their unique responsibility in safeguarding national security.