That's how Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu characterized it to President Vladimir Putin in footage aired on Russian state TV.
It's a show of force that coincides with Moscow moving quickly to revoke its ratification of a treaty banning nuclear tests.
A de-ratification bill unanimously passed Russia's upper house of parliament on Wednesday.
Putin will have the final sign-off.
Russia has the world's largest nuclear arsenal... and currently sees itself in an existential standoff with the West over Ukraine.
Moscow says revoking the treaty's ratification will line it up with Washington's stance.
The U.S. signed - but has never ratified - the same document.
"If the United States continues to take no steps to fulfill its obligations, then this agreement will remain a sham," upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko told lawmakers.
While the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) has never formally come into force, it has made nuclear testing taboo.
Russia carries out exercises to test its so-called nuclear triad from time to time... the U.S. also carries out regular drills.
Arms control experts say a test by either side could spark a new arms race... and trigger more tests from other countries.
Moscow says it has no plans to start testing unless Washington does first.
