The Security Index Occasional Paper Series Came Out With The New Report «Hypersonic And Non-Nuclear Deterrence» By Evgeny Kholodnov

MOSCOW, JULY 30, 2021. PIR PRESS. The Security Index Occasional Paper Series came out with the new report «Hypersonic and non-nuclear deterrence» by Evgeny Kholodnov.

This work continues the cycle of publications of the PIR Center devoted to the elements of the “strategic equation” proposed by Russia as the basis for a new architecture of strategic stability. The goal of the project is to find ways to “correlate” various weapons systems within a single equation or system of equations in order to offer solutions acceptable to Russia during future negotiations on strategic topics.

Key findings:

• Strategic non-nuclear weapons and non-nuclear deterrence complement nuclear deterrence rather than exist separately.
• The main purpose of non-nuclear deterrence is to prevent or promptly stop the escalation of the conflict between non-nuclear powers, as well as to reduce the risks of conflicts entering the nuclear phase between nuclear powers.
• On the other hand, the use of hypersonic technology in nuclear equipment to some extent shakes the strategic balance between the opposing forces and increases the risks of escalation of the nuclear conflict due to errors, incorrect estimates and a certain amount of uncertainty.
• For effective control and non-proliferation of technology, it is necessary to involve all States that possess these weapons. The existing missile technology control and export control regimes are the starting point for multilateral control.

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