R-39 (missile)

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R-39 (missile)

Rsm52.jpg

General Information
Type Submarine-based ballistic missile
Local name R-39 Rif, D-19, RSM-52
NATO designation SS-N-20 Sturgeon
Country of origin Soviet Union 1955Soviet Union Soviet Union / RussiaRussiaRussia 
Manufacturer Makeyev State Missile Center
development 1973
Commissioning 1984
Working time 1984-2005
Technical specifications
length 15.97 m
diameter 2,410 mm
Combat weight 81,000-87,600 kg
Drive
First stage
Second stage
Third stage
Solid rocket engine
Solid rocket engine
Solid rocket engine
Range 8,400 km
Furnishing
steering INS and astronavigation
Warhead 10 MIRV nuclear warheads with 100 kt each
Detonator Programmed detonator
Weapon platforms Submarine
Lists on the subject

R-39 "Rif" is a submarine -assisted ballistic ICBM ( SLBM ) from Soviet production. The NATO weapon system code is SS-N-20 Sturgeon . The GRAY index for the missile complex is D-19 and the missiles are named 3M65 . It is listed as RSM-52 Shetal in the START contracts .

development

In 1971, the first studies began to develop a new, heavy submarine-based ballistic ICBM with solid propulsion. This missile should be the main armament of the future submarines Project 941 "Akula" (NATO designation: Typhoon class). The R-39 was created in response to the development of the Trident missile in the United States . In 1973 the engineering contract for Makejew was given. The development was marked by persistent problems with solid rocket propulsion. The draft had to be revised several times. The first test start took place in September 1977. The first successful rocket flight took place in December 1980. In December 1981, the first launch from the submarine TK-208 , a boat from Project 941. On June 29, 1984, the R-39 was formally included in the armament of the Soviet Navy .

The R-39 is the world's largest and heaviest anti-submarine ballistic ICBM.

variants

  • R-39 Rif (RSM-52 Shetal): Initial version with 3M65 rocket, introduced in 1984.
  • R-39U Rif-U (RSM-52M): 2nd serial version introduced in 1988. With 3M65M rocket with increased precision and improved warheads.
  • R-39UTTCh Grom (RSM-52W Bark): Further development of the R-39U with an improved 3M91 rocket. After four unsuccessful test starts, the program was discontinued. ( NATO code : SS-NX-28 ).

technology

The 3M65 was a three-stage ICBM with solid rocket engines . The stages consisted of two main drive stages and a third stage with the re-entry body carrier (English Post Boost Vehicle). The drive stages were mounted one above the other and ignited one after the other. The first stage consisted of the first stage propulsion of the RT-23 intercontinental ballistic missile. The covers of the first two drive stages were made of composite materials . The shell of the third drive stage was made of a titanium alloy . The missiles can be launched from the surfaced or submerged submarine, individually or at 15-second intervals . The 3M65 rocket was also equipped with the cocoon launch stage at the rocket tip . This consisted of a ring with solid rocket engines, which were arranged axially above the rocket fuselage. This launch stage was ignited after the rocket had been ejected from the launch silos by means of gas pressure. This drive led the rocket to the surface of the water. He created a cavitation gas bubble , which reduced the fluid dynamic stress on the rocket surface. The first stage ignited immediately after the rocket left the launch silo. After the rocket pierced the surface of the water, the cocoon launching stage was detonated from the tip of the rocket and propelled out of the rocket's trajectory using the rocket drive. The control of the 3M65 missile takes place in the first flight phase by means of inertial navigation platforms . After the burn-out of the first two drive stages (English boost phase), the third stage with the re-entry body carrier rose on a ballistic curve. Now he could make the last changes in position. The control in this flight phase took place with an electro-optical astronavigation system. The 10 MIRV re-entry bodies were arranged on a concentric ring around the third stage rocket nozzle . The re-entry bodies were released onto their individual ballistic trajectories in a sequence in which the wearer made course corrections in between. The re-entry bodies each weighed 255 kg and were equipped with a thermonuclear warhead. This had an explosive power of 100 kt and could be ignited in the air or on contact with the ground. The reentry bodies achieved a precision ( CEP ) of 340–500 m. Due to its relatively low accuracy, the SS-N-20 could only be used against so-called “soft targets” such as population centers , industrial complexes , port facilities , airfields and railway junctions . US and NATO experts saw the SS-N-20 as an effective second strike weapon , but with which a successful first strike could also be carried out.

status

A total of six Typhoon-class submarines were built and each equipped with 20 SS-N-20 missiles. The maximum number of SS-N-20s stationed on submarines was 120 missiles in 1991. These submarines were decommissioned in 2005 as part of the START negotiations. The rockets removed from the submarines were dismantled, scrapped and recycled at the manufacturing plant . In the course of the separation of the R-39 in 1997, the submarines TK-13 and TK-20 each launched every 20 missiles in Salve. The rockets were blown up after a certain flight time and the remains fell into the sea. The last of the 151 R-39 missiles still in existence was destroyed in 2012.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Pavel Podvig: Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. MIT Press, 2004, ISBN 0-262-16202-4 .
  2. ↑ a b rbase.new-factoria.ru , accessed on February 3, 2014
  3. ↑ Pavel Podvig: R-39 flight test program. In: russianforces.org. Russian strategic nuclear forces, January 1, 2009, accessed October 1, 2018 .
  4. ↑ a b c d Militaryrussia.ru , accessed on February 3, 2014
  5. ↑ a b c d e Duncan Lennox: Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems. Jane's Information Group , 2005, ISBN 0-7106-0880-2 .
  6. ↑ a b Missile Complex D-19 ICBM R-39 (Typhoon). In: bastion-karpenko.ru. НЕВСКИЙ БАСТИОН, accessed October 5, 2018 (Russian).
  7. ↑ a b Missilethreat.com ( Memento from June 5, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on February 3, 2014
  8. ↑ Russianforces: Elimination of R-39 / SS-N-20 missiles , accessed February 3, 2014