Neither the United States nor NATO has an effective defense against Russia's nuclear warhead armed SSC-8 ground-launched cruise missile system, which became operational in western Russia early March in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) signed in 1987.

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The SSC-8, also identified as the 9M729, is a long-range system, claims the Russians. In the context of the INF Treaty, a long-range missile system has a range greater than 5,500 km.

The United States claims Russia violated the "spirit and intent" of the INF Treaty by deploying two SSC-8 battalions each with four launchers. That claim was made in February by U.S. Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Russia, however, argues it hasn't violated the agreement, and instead assailed the U.S. and NATO for threatening Russia's national security with a massive military build-up along Russia's borders.

It said the SSC-8 doesn't fall under the INF Treaty because the missile is a long-range missile with a range in excess of 5,500 km. The U.S. claims otherwise, however, saying the SSC-8 with its range of 3,000 km is an intermediate-range system.

The SSC-8's range extends from 480 km to 5,400 km, according to different sources.

The INF Treaty eliminated all nuclear and conventional missiles and their launchers with ranges of 500-1,000 kilometers for short-range systems and 1,000-5,500 km for intermediate-range systems. Missile systems with ranges in excess of 5,500 km aren't part of the treaty.

U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, Commander, United States Strategic Command, told the U.S. Congress the U.S. and NATO have "no defense" against the SSC-8. He said the cruise missile has been deployed in the Volgograd region and at a second, unidentified site.

"We have no defense for it, especially in defense of our European allies," said Gen. Hyten.

"That system can range and threaten most of the continent of Europe depending on where it is deployed. ... It is a concern and we're going to have to figure out how to deal with it as a nation."

TagsSSC-8 ground-launched cruise missile system, Russia, United States, NATO, Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty, INF Treaty, Gen. Paul Selva, Gen. John Hyten