RS-12M

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RS-12M

RS-12M on MAZ-7917
RS-12M on MAZ-7917

General Information
Type ICBM
Local name RS-12M Topol, RT-2PM, 15Sch58
NATO designation SS-25 Sickle
Country of origin Soviet UnionSoviet Union Soviet Union / RussiaRussiaRussia 
Manufacturer Nadiradze and Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering
development 1977
Commissioning 1988
Working time In service
Technical specifications
length 21.50 m
diameter 1,800 mm
Combat weight 45,100 kg
Drive
First stage
Second stage
Third stage
Solid
Solid
Solid & PBV (Post Boost Vehicle)
Range 10,500 km
Furnishing
steering INS
Warhead 1 nuclear warhead 800 kt plus 3 decoys
Detonator Programmed detonator
Weapon platforms MAZ-7917 truck or missile silo
Lists on the subject

The RS-12M Topol ( NATO reporting name SS-25 Sickle , GRAY index 15Sch58 ) is a vehicle-mounted intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which in the Soviet Union was developed. The system index of the Russian armed forces is RT-2PM .

development

The RS-12M was designed as an inexpensive mobile ICBM system that is difficult to locate. In 1977, the Nadiradze design office and the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering began developing the system. Since the - never ratified - SALT-II treaty forbade the redesign of ICBMs, the Soviet Union declared the RS-12M system as a further development of the RS-12 . In fact, the developers fell back on the design of the RS-14 . The RS-12M uses the first two rocket stages of the RS-14, but is equipped with a newly developed PBV ( Post Boost Vehicle ). The new PBV contains a newly developed navigation and control unit as well as a newly designed nuclear warhead .

Two different versions of the Topol were created:

  • a stationary silo-bound version and
  • a mobile, vehicle-bound version.

The first RS-12M were introduced to the Strategic Missile Forces in 1988 . The guided missiles are stationed at nine different locations in former RS-12 , RS-16A and RT-21M silos. The mobile system is placed and relocatable on the all-terrain MAZ-7912 or MAZ-7917 -14 × 12- truck .

The Topol-M (SS-27) is a further development of the Topol . Decommissioned Topol are the basis for the launch - launch vehicle .

technology

The Topol uses a three-stage rocket motor which , unlike previous ICBMs, works with solid matter . This means that it can be used and started independently of a permanent basis, which was essential for liquid fuel. With the mobile system, the rockets can be launched directly in the base, on the street or anywhere in the field. The mobile system can be installed quickly and is therefore difficult to locate. Preventive destruction is therefore difficult to achieve. A minimum reaction time of a few minutes is achieved. The missile is equipped with a nuclear warhead with an explosive power of 800 kT . It is controlled using an inertial navigation platform . With this system, a hit accuracy ( CEP ) of 200 to 500 meters is achieved , depending on the shooting distance . To make defensive measures by interceptor missiles more difficult, three decoys are released when the warhead is released. With the RS-12M all strategic targets such as hardened missile silos and underground command bunkers can be fought. US and NATO experts see the Topol as an effective second strike weapon , but can also be used for an effective first strike .

status

In March 2017, 36 mobile RS-12M missiles are in active service in Barnaul ( Sibirski ). The missiles are stationed in regiments with nine missiles each. The active Topol have exceeded the end of their originally planned period of service and should be retired by 2019. The successor is the Topol-M .

See also

literature

  • JANE'S STRATEGIC WEAPON SYSTEMS Edition 2005. Jane's Verlag
  • Land-based Soviet / Russian ballistic guided missiles. DTIG - Defense Threat Informations Group, July 2005

Web links

Commons : RS-12M  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ RS-12M - March 2017