VLASIKHA, December 17 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s strategic missile force continues to be upgraded under a plan authorized by the country’s political leadership and in strict compliance with the restrictions imposed by the strategic arms reduction treaty START-3, the strategic force commander, Colonel-General Sergei Karakayev told the media on the occasion of the SMF’s 54th anniversary.

“We are hoping to get fundamentally new missile complexes with warheads allowing the strategic missile force to comply with the quota for operational delivery vehicles and warheads established under the current START treaty,” Karakayev said.

He said the SMF would have a balanced structure and an optimal number of strategic missiles crucial to coping with the tasks of nuclear deterrence and maintaining Russia’s security.”

“The present shape of the SMF structure guarantees strategic deterrence. Amid the ongoing reform to optimize the structure and composition of the Russian armed forces the SMF maintains the required combat and mobilization readiness, controllability and combat readiness,” Karakayev said.

He declared that the SMF current had about 400 launchers with inter-continental ballistic missiles.