Russia claims it's avoided plunging into strategic inferiority against NATO (including the United States) because of an inflow of a number of new nuclear-warhead armed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and other weapon systems.

Defense minister Gen. Sergei Shoigu said the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has received a steady trickle of new weapons thereby allowing it to maintain "strategic parity" with NATO.

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He said Russia's nuclear forces are being equipped with the new RS-24 Yars MIRV-equipped, thermonuclear armed ICBM with an enhanced capability to penetrate any potential missile defense.

The Russian Navy commissioned three new Borei-class nuclear submarines armed with the Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile. Gen. Shoigu said the number of Boreis will reach seven by 2021.

The Russian Aerospace Forces will also start receiving a modernized version of the Tupolev Tu-160 long-range jet bomber.

Gen. Shoigu claims planned deliveries of the new Tupolev T-50 stealth fighter and the S-500 air defense missile system will significantly strengthen Russia's air defenses.

He did, however, avoid mentioning the huge cuts to funding for the Russian Navy.

A few days ago, Russian president Vladimir Putin finally confirmed what's been bruited about for months: economic sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States have forced the Kremlin to officially postpone the development of a new aircraft carrier and a new class of nuclear-powered destroyers for the Russian Navy.

Putin announced the postponement of both flagship projects, making the navy the service hardest hit by the new and huge budget cuts.

Russian military experts a few months ago were openly speculating Russia's severe cash crisis will hit the navy particularly hard, which means the navy will get fewer new warships and submarines. As a result, the navy has to prioritize its procurement targets so no new warships will introduced in the foreseeable future.

Shtorm was to have been Russia's first true nuclear aircraft carrier in the mold of the U.S. Navy's new Gerald R. Ford-class. It was to have been the largest of its kind in the world.

TagsRussia, NATO, Gen. Sergei Shoigu, strategic inferiority, RS-24 Yars, Vladimir Putin