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C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 000958 
 
 
 
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018 
TAGS: KACT PARM BIC JCIC US RS
 
SUBJECT: BIC-X:  BILATERAL IMPLEMENTATION COMMISSION, 
SESSION X, NOVEMBER 12, 2008 
 
REF: A. GENEVA 561 (BIC-IX-001) 
     ¶B. 04 GENEVA 127 (BIC-I-003) 
 
Classified By:  Jerry A. Taylor, United States Representative to 
the Bilateral Implementation Commission.  Reasons:  1.4(b) 
and (d). 
 
¶1.  (U) This is BIC-X-001. 
 
¶2.  (U) Meeting Date:  November 12, 2008 
                Time:  10:00 A.M. - 11:10 A.M. 
               Place:  Russian Mission, Geneva 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶3.  (C) U.S. and Russian representatives to the Moscow 
Treaty's Bilateral Implementation Commission (BIC) met at the 
Russian Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 12, 2008, 
to conduct the Tenth Session of the BIC.  The sides presented 
briefings on the status of, and plans for, reductions in 
their strategic nuclear forces.  The United States briefing 
specified that the number of operationally deployed strategic 
nuclear warheads (ODSNW) as of September 30, 2008, was 2303. 
The Russian briefing specified that the number of Russian 
strategic nuclear warheads (SNW) as of October 1, 2008, was 
¶1833.  There were no significant changes in terms of plans to 
meet the Moscow Treaty limits reported by either side since 
the Ninth Session of the BIC (Ref A). 
 
--------------- 
OPENING REMARKS 
--------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Koshelev welcomed the U.S. Delegation and introduced 
the Russian Delegation.  Taylor reciprocated after expressing 
U.S. condolences for the military and civilian personnel who 
were killed or injured as a result of the November 8, 2008, 
accident on a Russian submarine.  Koshelev then made the 
following comments: 
 
- There have been rapid developments in the political sphere 
since the July session of the BIC, including the tragic 
events in the North Caucasus. 
 
- These events were followed by a period of cooling down of 
some relations.  However, this cooling down did not impact 
U.S.-Russian interactions with regard to strategic offensive 
reductions.  In this regard, the Russian Federation received 
the U.S. draft post-START text and regards this as a positive 
step forward concerning interactions on strategic offensive 
reductions. 
 
- There have also been positive developments in the U.S. 
political sphere, and Russia congratulates the United States 
on the election of its 44th President.  Russia cannot but 
like the intentions expressed by the President-elect, in 
particular with regard to change.  Reiterating the statement 
made by President Medvedev, the Russian Federation is 
prepared to cooperate constructively with the United States. 
Russia only hopes that the positive statements that have been 
made can be successfully implemented. 
 
- This marks the Tenth Session of the BIC, and can be 
regarded as a sort of anniversary session.  The Russian 
Federation considers the BIC to be a critical element of 
interaction with the United States. 
 
- Because the START Treaty expires in December 2009, the work 
of the BIC may be elevated.  We should have a common goal to 
improve the practicality of our work.  The current system for 
exchanging information provides the required level of 
confidence and predictability.  However, the information 
exchanged is based on START information and notifications, 
and we must consider the volume and structure of the 
information provided under START.  With this in mind, Russia 
believes the Parties should revisit the proposals of the 
Russian Federation made during BIC-I (Ref B), and expects 
these proposals will be considered favorably by the United 
States. 
 
Taylor replied that the United States would study Koshelev's 
comments and would review the proposals from the first 
session of the BIC. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
U.S. BRIEFING ON STRATEGIC NUCLEAR FORCES 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Yaguchi presented the following unclassified briefing 
updating the status of U.S. ODSNW.  (Begin comment:  What 
follows are the briefing slides and the narrative used for 
each slide.  End comment.) 
 
Begin text of U.S. presentation: 
 
Title Slide: 
U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces 
Bilateral Implementation Commission 
November 2008 
 
Narrative: 
- This briefing will provide an update on U.S. strategic 
nuclear forces. 
- It will summarize actions taken since the last BIC briefing 
and long-range plans for these forces. 
 
Slide 2 
U.S. Plans for Strategic Nuclear Forces 
- Reduce total operationally deployed strategic nuclear 
  warheads to 1700-2200 by 31 December 2012: 
  -- Remove some delivery systems from service; and 
  -- For delivery systems retained, remove some warheads from 
operational missiles to reduce the number of operationally 
deployed nuclear warheads 
- Completed actions: 
  -- Removed 4 Trident I SSBNs from strategic service 
  -- B-1B conventional role only 
  -- Deactivated Peacekeeper ICBMs 
  -- Deactivated Trident I SLBMs 
  -- Converted 4 Trident I SSBNs to carry Trident II SLBMs 
  -- Removed 50 Minuteman III ICBM silo launchers from 
strategic service 
- Ongoing actions: 
  -- Removing some warheads from operational missiles 
  -- Deactivating all AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missiles 
- Baseline 2012 Strategic Nuclear Force Structure: 
  -- 14 Trident II SSBNs 
  -- 450 Minuteman III ICBMs 
  -- 20 B-2 Bombers 
  -- 76 B-52H Bombers 
 
 
Narrative: 
- Our existing strategic nuclear force structure, with the 
reductions mentioned during previous briefings, will remain 
in service at least through 2020. 
  -- Minuteman service life is projected through 2030. 
  -- Ohio class ballistic missile submarines have been 
extended in life and the oldest of the remaining 14 is 
planned to be operational beyond 2025. 
  -- Our oldest bomber, the B-52, has had numerous upgrades 
and, along with the B-2, should remain operational for 
several decades. 
- We have underway, or in the planning stages, life extension 
programs to ensure that these systems remain reliable and 
safe and incorporate modern electronics. 
- In addition, we are beginning to examine options to replace 
these weapon systems when each reaches the end of its service 
life. 
 
Slide 3 
Update on ICBMs 
Minuteman III 
- Status:  Removed the last 5 of 50 Minuteman III ICBM silo 
launchers from strategic service in July 2008. 
 
Narrative: 
- We started to deactivate 50 Minuteman III silo launchers in 
early summer 2007. 
- Complete deactivation occurred in July 2008. 
 
Slide 4 
Update on SSBNs 
Modification of 4 SSBNs to SSGNs 
- Status:  Four Trident I SSBNs have been removed from 
strategic service and have completed their refueling overhauls 
  -- All four SSGNs have completed modification 
  -- There are no plans to return Trident I SSBNs to 
strategic service 
Conversion of 4 Trident I SSBNs to Trident II 
- Status:  Four submarines have been converted from Trident I 
to Trident II SLBM launchers 
  -- Trident I SLBMs are deactivated 
 
Narrative: 
- There are no operational Trident I launchers. 
 
Slide 5 
Update on Heavy Bombers 
Heavy Bombers 
- Status:  Lost one B-52 in July 2008. 
Nuclear Air-Launched Cruise Missiles 
- Status:  The United States plans to complete the 
deactivation of the AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missile by 
December 31, 2012. 
 
Narrative: 
- One B-52 crashed since the last report. 
- The United States plans to complete the deactivation of the 
AGM-129 by December 31, 2012. 
- The FY08 National Defense Authorization Act mandated that 
the Air Force not reduce the force structure below 76 B-52s. 
The deactivation of B-52s has not yet begun. 
 
Slide 6 
Total U.S. Operationally Deployed Strategic Nuclear Warheads 
- For purposes of the Moscow Treaty, the United States 
considers Operationally Deployed Strategic Nuclear Warheads 
to be: 
  -- Reentry vehicles on intercontinental ballistic missiles 
in their launchers 
  -- Reentry vehicles on submarine-launched ballistic 
missiles in their launchers onboard submarines, and 
  -- Nuclear armaments loaded on heavy bombers or stored in 
weapons storage areas of heavy bomber bases 
- A small number of spare strategic nuclear warheads 
(including spare ICBM warheads) are located at heavy bomber 
bases. 
  -- The U.S. does not consider these warheads to be 
operationally deployed strategic nuclear warheads. 
- As of September 30, 2008, the aggregate number of U.S. 
Operationally Deployed Strategic Nuclear Warheads was 2303. 
 
Narrative: 
- This is the U.S. definition of operationally deployed 
strategic nuclear warheads. 
- The U.S. does not consider spare warheads to be 
operationally deployed strategic nuclear warheads. 
- During BIC IX, the U.S. reported that as of May 31, 2008, 
the aggregate number of U.S. ODSNW was 2647. 
- As of September 30, 2008, the aggregate number of U.S. 
ODSNW was 2303. 
 
Slide 7 
Summary 
- Current and planned strategic nuclear force structure and 
activities are consistent with the current strategic 
environment. 
 
Narrative: 
In summary, 
- Our operationally deployed strategic nuclear warheads 
continue to be reduced consistent with the terms of the 
Moscow Treaty. 
- The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review recommended reducing 
MM-III ICBMs to 450. 
- We are deactivating all AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missiles. 
- We have a number of activities in progress related to 
sustainment of our strategic forces and implementation of our 
defense strategy.  These are consistent with the new 
strategic environment. 
- Our intention is to continue to provide transparency and 
predictability on our activities and forces through actions 
such as this briefing. 
 
End text of U.S. presentation. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
RUSSIAN BRIEFING ON STRATEGIC NUCLEAR FORCES 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Ryzhkov presented the following briefing, classified 
confidential, updating the status of and plans for Russia's 
strategic nuclear forces.  At the beginning of the briefing 
he noted that the information was current as of October 1, 
2008, which is Russia's traditional cut-off date for 
information presented during the fall session of the BIC. 
 
Begin text of official translation of Russian briefing: 
 
                                       Official Translation 
 
Title Page:  Reduction of Strategic Nuclear Forces of the 
 
 
Russian Federation Under the Treaty on Strategic Offensive 
Reductions 
Tenth Session of the Bilateral Implementation Commission for 
the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions 
Geneva, November 2008 
 
Page 2 
Plans to Reduce and Limit Strategic Nuclear Warheads 
The Russian Federation's plans have not changed since the 
previous session of the Bilateral Implementation Commission 
for the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions: 
-- The Russian Federation will reduce and limit its strategic 
nuclear warheads so that by December 31, 2012, the aggregate 
number of such warheads will not exceed 1700-2200; 
-- For the purposes of counting nuclear warheads under the 
Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions, the Russian 
Federation considers the following: 
      - reentry vehicles on ICBMs in their launchers; 
      - reentry vehicles on SLBMs in their launchers on board 
submarines; 
      - nuclear armaments loaded on heavy bombers and those 
stored in weapons storage areas directly at heavy bomber 
bases. 
 
Page 3 
The Russian Federation is implementing its plans by: 
-- removing from service and subsequently eliminating 
missiles, launchers, submarines, and heavy bombers that have 
reached the end of their warrantied service life; 
-- converting silo launchers of ICBMs for new armaments and 
modernizing heavy bombers; 
-- developing and putting into service land-based and 
sea-based strategic missile systems of a new type: 
      - tests of the RSM-56 SLBM will continue; 
      - tests of the prototype of the RS-24 ICBM, which is 
intended to replace obsolete missiles on alert status, will 
continue; 
      - work on equipping the Strategic Rocket Forces with 
missile systems with silo-based and mobile-based SS-27 ICBMs 
will continue. 
 
Page 4 
Progress in Strategic Offensive Arms Reductions in 2008 
By October 1, 2008, the Russian Federation 
had eliminated: 
      -- 19 road-mobile launchers for SS-25 ICBMs 
(including 1 by means of conversion to static   display); 
      -- 20 launchers of SS-N-20 SLBMs; 
      -- 39 SS-25 ICBMs (including 1 by means of launching); 
      -- 10 SS-19 ICBMs (including 1 by means of launching); 
      --  3 SS-18 ICBMs (including 2 by means of launching); 
      --  3 SS-24 ICBMs; 
      --  1 SS-N-18 SLBM(by means of launching); 
      --  2 SS-N-20 SLBMs; 
--  2 SS-N-23 SLBMs; 
--  1 Bear H heavy bomber. 
 
(Begin comment:  Ryzhkov noted that eliminations will 
continue during the year and the Russian Federation will 
complete by the end of 2008 the eliminations that it had 
planned for the year and had presented during BIC-IX (Ref A). 
 End comment.) 
 
Page 5 
Results of Implementation of the Treaty on Strategic 
Offensive Reductions in 2008 
 
As of October 1, 2008, the Russian Federation had 1833 
strategic nuclear warheads, which is 199 fewer than as of May 
1, 2008. 
 
Page 6 
Conclusion 
-- The Russian Federation continues to reduce its strategic 
nuclear warheads under the Treaty on Strategic Offensive 
Reductions. 
-- The Russian Federation determines for itself the 
composition and structure of its strategic nuclear forces. 
In this connection, the Russian Federation is guided by 
national security interests and the interests of maintaining 
strategic stability. 
 
End text of official translation of Russian briefing. 
 
------------------ 
MEETING CONCLUSION 
------------------ 
 
¶7.  (C) No questions were raised by either side concerning 
the information presented by the other.  Taylor noted that 
during the First Session of the BIC, the delegations 
approached information exchanges cautiously, unsure of the 
manner for presenting sensitive information associated with 
future plans for implementing the Moscow Treaty.  He 
considered it a credit to the U.S. and Russian Governments 
how each has approached information exchanges in the BIC, and 
the positive progression that has occurred in this regard 
since the First Session.  As a result, the United States had 
no questions concerning the presentation by the Russian 
Federation.  Taylor concluded that it was clear both sides 
were working hard to implement the Moscow Treaty, and he 
appreciated the opportunity to exchange information in the 
BIC. 
 
¶8.  (C) Koshelev replied by stating that Taylor's assessment 
confirmed the wisdom of the political leadership, which 
sometimes makes decisions that are not understood at the 
experts' level.  In this regard a political decision 
concerning an agreement to replace the START Treaty is 
necessary, and perhaps in the next 5-10 years contentious 
issues will be resolved and there will continue to be an 
exchange of information as well as verification measures for 
the data exchanged.  Koshelev concluded by stating that the 
Russian Federation had no questions concerning the U.S. 
briefing. 
 
¶9.  (U) Documents exchanged: 
 
- U.S.: 
 
    -- U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces Presentation, dated 
November 2008. 
 
- Russia: 
 
    -- Russian Presentation on Reductions of Strategic 
Nuclear Forces of the Russian Federation under the SOR 
Treaty, dated November 2008. 
 
¶10.  (U) Delegation lists: 
 
U.S. Delegation 
 
 
Mr. Taylor 
Lt Col Comeau 
Mr. DeNinno 
Mr. Dunn 
Mr. Fortier 
Mr. Hanchett 
Mr. Johnston 
Mr. Kuehne 
Mr. Vogel 
Mr. Yaguchi 
Ms. Gross (Int) 
 
Russian Delegation 
 
Mr. Koshelev 
Mr. Artem'yev 
Mr. Kashirin 
CAPT (1st Rank) Kuz'min 
Maj Gen Nikishin 
Col Novikov 
Col Ryzhkov 
Mr. Serov 
Ms. Sorokina 
Col Zaytsev 
Mr. Gusov (Int) 
 
¶11.  (U) Taylor sends. 
TICHENOR 
 
 
NNNN 
 



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