Largest nuclear arsenal globally. Full triad operational. Modernisation continues, but FAS 2025 notes Sarmat has faced delays and setbacks.

Large but attrited by Ukraine campaign. Active reconstitution underway. Significant armour and artillery capability remains.

Advanced aircraft (Su-35, Su-57 limited numbers). Significant ISR and strike capability. Sustaining operational losses.

Black Sea Fleet degraded. Northern Fleet and Pacific Fleet retain submarine capability. SSBN force key strategic asset.

Highly sophisticated state cyber capability (APT28, Sandworm). Active information operations globally.

Extensive integrated air defence. S-400/S-500 systems. Kalibr and Iskander cruise/ballistic missile systems.

Independent launch capability. Reconnaissance and navigation satellites. Counter-space capabilities.

Russia has resumed Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber production for the first time since 1992. The first new-build Tu-160M was delivered to the VKS in January 2022. The upgraded variant features new NK-32-02 engines with 10% greater thrust, modernised avionics, and expanded Kh-101 cruise missile compatibility. Putin has stated a target of 50 Tu-160M aircraft. Production pace remains limited by industrial capacity constraints and component supply chain disruptions from Western sanctions.

North Korea supplied an estimated 5,000–6,000 KN-23 quasi-ballistic missiles and significant quantities of 122mm and 152mm artillery shells to Russia for use in Ukraine. US and South Korean intelligence confirmed deliveries from late 2023. Ukrainian forensic analysis recovered KN-23 debris with Korean-language markings. The transfers represent a fundamental shift in DPRK strategic posture — active participation in a major conventional conflict as a munitions supplier.

The United States and South Korea confirmed in October 2024 that North Korea had deployed approximately 10,000–12,000 troops to Russia for service in the Kursk Oblast theatre of operations. The deployment — the first DPRK military operation outside the peninsula since the Korean War — occurred under a Russia-DPRK mutual defence cooperation agreement signed by Putin and Kim Jong Un in June 2024. US officials confirmed DPRK personnel sustained significant casualties in combat by January 2025.

Russia completed delivery of Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile systems to Belarus in 2023, fulfilling a commitment announced by Putin in June 2023 alongside the stationing of tactical nuclear weapons. The transfer included training for Belarusian crews and nuclear delivery procedures under the June 2023 Russia-Belarus nuclear cooperation agreement. Belarus is the first country since the Cold War to receive Russian tactical nuclear weapons on its territory.

Following initial deliveries of Shahed-136 loitering munitions in 2022, Russia and Iran concluded an arrangement for domestic Russian production of the platform at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan. Designated Geran-2 in Russian service, production at this facility began in 2023. Over 3,000 Shahed/Geran variants have been used against Ukrainian infrastructure targets through 2024. The arrangement significantly reduces Russian dependence on Iranian supply chains.

India's $5.43B contract for five S-400 Triumf air defence regiments has been partially fulfilled, with two of five squadrons delivered by late 2022. Remaining deliveries have been delayed by Russia's redirection of industrial capacity to the Ukraine conflict and US CAATSA sanctions pressure on India. India has resisted US pressure to cancel the deal. The S-400 provides India with a long-range multi-threat air defence capability covering Sino-Indian border regions.