The “Dead Hand” system is designed to operate independently to strike enemy targets even if the entire territory of Russia is destroyed due to a comprehensive nuclear attack.
In March, President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement with neighboring Belarus to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on its territory, asserting that this does not violate nuclear non-proliferation agreements.
Recently, on August 22, Polish President Andrzej Duda reported that Russia is in the process of transferring some short-range nuclear weapons to Belarus.
If “Dead Hand” is activated, it will be our apocalypse. (Illustrative image: Alliance for Science).
According to Andrzej Duda, this move will alter the security structure of the region and the entire NATO military alliance.
The information regarding Russia’s transfer of short-range nuclear weapons has raised significant concerns, as it could potentially trigger World War III.
“Dead Hand” – The Apocalypse Obsession
Russia is currently the successor to the Soviet Union’s nuclear arsenal, possessing the largest stockpile of nuclear warheads in the world. Notably, the Perimeter system, referred to as “Dead Hand” in the West, plays a crucial role in this arsenal.
It is estimated that Russia has about 1,500 unused warheads.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, as of 2022, President Putin controls approximately 5,977 nuclear warheads, compared to 5,428 for the United States.
It is estimated that Russia has around 1,500 unused warheads (which may still be intact), 2,889 reserve warheads, and 1,588 deployed strategic warheads.
Reports from atomic scientists indicate that operationally, Russia currently has 812 nuclear warheads deployed on ground-launched ballistic missiles, 576 warheads mounted on submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and about 200 in reserve at bases to equip heavy bombers.
In contrast, China has a total of 350 warheads, France has 290, and the UK has 225 warheads.
In the event of a nuclear attack from Moscow and Washington, Russia could activate the Perimeter system, which has the capability to destroy the world multiple times over.
“Dead Hand” ensures that Russia can retaliate against enemies even if its entire armed forces are annihilated. Once activated, the Perimeter system will initiate the entire nuclear arsenal of Russia.
This is part of the Cold War doctrine of mutually assured destruction, where the side that initiates a nuclear attack first will also face annihilation.
How Does the “Dead Hand” System Work?
When the Perimeter is activated, a command missile is launched, soaring across the territory of the country.
It carries a radio device intended to transmit launch orders to Russia’s nuclear silos, regardless of radio interference.
A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a nuclear warhead. (Photo: Quore).
In 1985, the Perimeter system was officially integrated into the Soviet military when the command missile “Dead Hand” was successfully tested.
The Perimeter system serves the purpose of self-defense and deterrence, with Russia continuously upgrading it to align with its new nuclear deterrence strategies.
For instance, the Perimeter system is synchronized with Russian satellites and radar for early warning in the event of a nuclear attack threat. It is even connected to the country’s new hypersonic missiles.
In 2011, General Sergey Karakaev of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces confirmed the Perimeter system in an interview with a Russian newspaper.
For the United States, the country has also developed technologies like seismic and radiation sensors to monitor the nation and the world for nuclear explosions or other military activities.
However, the U.S. military has never constructed an automatic activation system for its entire arsenal.
Instead, the U.S. has created a completely different system designed to ensure that survivors of a first nuclear attack have the authority to activate the nation’s nuclear weapons to launch a second strike.
The Perimeter system is reported to still be operational, thus the risk of automated nuclear strikes generated by computers persists in today’s world.
Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin has placed the country’s nuclear arsenal on high alert, leading some scientists to speculate that he may also be paying attention to the “Dead Hand” system.
Russia Remains a Nuclear Superpower
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union’s nuclear arsenal peaked at about 40,000 warheads, while the U.S. held only 30,000 warheads.
However, the critical issue is how to deliver them using the country’s new generation of missile, submarine, and bomber systems, which is not an easy task.
Russia possesses many types of weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads. (Illustrative image: CNN).
Russia has approximately 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads, while reports from atomic scientists estimate this number to be 1,185 warheads.
The Russian Navy operates 10 submarines armed with nuclear weapons, capable of carrying a maximum of 800 warheads, along with 60-70 nuclear bombers.
The U.S. reported in its 2022 Nuclear Posture Review that Russia and China are expanding and modernizing their nuclear arsenals, and Washington will pursue a weapon control approach to prevent costly arms races.
Meanwhile, President Putin stated that he has information on the U.S. developing its own new nuclear weapons.
According to the American-based Arms Control Association (ACA), since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, only a few countries have tested nuclear weapons, including the U.S. last testing in 1992, China and France in 1996, India and Pakistan in 1998, and North Korea last in 2017.
Who Can Order the Launch of Russian Nuclear Weapons?
According to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, President Putin is the ultimate decision-maker regarding the use of nuclear weapons, including both strategic and non-strategic options.
Accompanying the President is a nuclear briefcase known as “Cheget” (named after Mount Cheget in the Caucasus). The current Minister of Defense of Russia is Sergey Shoigu, and the Chief of the General Staff is General Valery Gerasimov, both reportedly have similar briefcases.
Essentially, the briefcase serves as a communication tool, linking orders from the Russian President to top military commanders and missile forces through an extremely secretive electronic system known as “Kazbek.”
Footage aired by Russia’s Zvezda television channel in 2019 displayed the nuclear briefcase containing numerous buttons. In the section called “orders,” there are two buttons: a white “launch” button and a red “cancel” button.
According to Zvezda, the briefcase is activated by a special flashcard.
In the event of a strategic nuclear attack against Russia, the President will send launch orders directly to the general staff command and reserve command units, all of which hold nuclear codes.
The orders will quickly transmit through various communication systems to the strategic missile forces, which will then activate nuclear missiles to strike targets.
If a nuclear attack is confirmed, President Putin can activate the “Dead Hand” system as a last resort.
In essence, a computer will determine the apocalypse, with a controlled missile ordering a nuclear strike from Russia’s vast arsenal.
