Posted on 12/22/2004 3:41:33 PM PST by klpt
Russia today tested its SS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, which it test fired from the Dombarovsky missile base in the Odenberg region of Russia, traveling some 6,000km to the Kura testing ground on the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula. This was the first test of a missile being launched from within Russia proper since 1991, reports Interfax—most test launches of the SS-18 take place from Kazakhstan.
The missile in question was described as the RS-20V (R-36M2) Voyevoda, which has been in service for some 16 years, and which will remain in service for another ten or 15 years. It is known as the SS-18 or as “Satan” in the West. Of the two versions or “modifications” of SS-18s currently deployed, this was probably the SS-18 Mod 4. Russia reportedly has about 40-50 of these missiles currently in service.
Russia is expected to test one more missile in 2004, the Topol-M, this Friday, December 24.
RIA Novosti included a brief description of the SS-18 specifications:
The RS-20 Voyevoda (the Satan) has a takeoff weight of about 211 tons, a length of around 34 meters, and an operational range of over 10,000 kilometers with the independent inertial navigation system. The 8.8-ton warhead includes ten independently targetable re-entry vehicles whose total power is equal to 1,200 Hiroshima nuclear bombs. A single missile can totally eliminate 500 square kilometers of enemy defenses. Pavel Podvig adds:
Missiles of this type have a number of design improvements over their predecessor, R-36MUTTH (SS-18, RS-20B) — its second-stage engine is fully submerged into the fuel tank, warheads are arranged on a two-layer platform, etc. — which helped increase its combat effectiveness. With throwweight of 8.8 MT, the missile can carry ten individually-targeted warheads and missile defense penetration aids.
Russia has the ability to develop and procure advanced weaponry.
Why? Becuase they do not spend $1 trillion plus on social welfare like we do every year.
Russia and China are developing advanced strategic weapons--we are not.
you are so RIGHT!!!
Buh wuh!?!?! Libby Whiners tell me we need no missile defense.
Well . . . as the Gipper used to say, I WANT to believe that Reagan brought down the Soviet Union. I REAAALLY DO! But the Soviets just make it so difficult to believe that.
As, I believe, has every other country that has taken money from us. Iraq,Iran, Saudi Arabia. Heck, we had a blueprint of the mountain facility OBL was supposed to be hiding in because we built it.
A more important part of the reason why Russia and China can develop these new systems is that they massively underfund the rest of their militaries.
Honestly, Russia and China play their cards a lot smarter than we do.
They use their money to develop very advanced weapons. They do not spend money on nation building and getting bogged down in guerilla warfare anymore; the Russians learned their lesson from Afghanistan.
And, as I mentioned, they certainly don't spend $1 trillion plus on social welfare every year as we do.
We no longer have the technical edge in advanced weapons. The Russians can do anything we can do, and often do it better. The Chinese get much of their technology from the Russians, and will soon be on par in their own design bureaus. The Russians are far more advanced than us in ABM systems, SAMs, ICBMs, and other areas.
We are becoming third rate due to the massive social welfare spending, and due to the fact we are spending our DOD $ on police action in foreign lands instead of keeping pace with Russia and China in advanced weapon design and procurement.
Yes, our best army division can out pound their best army division since we spend more in that area. But, we are starting to lose bigtime in advanced weapon design and procurement for the reasons mentioned above.
First off - I too would like to see social spending cut and channeled into tax cuts and more military spending and am certainly not in favor of spending money to help ungrateful third world countries.
While the asymmetric force strategy of Russia and China pays dividends in their ability to match or better our missile capabilities it has resulted in a Russian army that is underpaid, underfed and demoralized - and unable (even operating without the political hindrances we burden ourselves with in Iraq) to to maintain security within its own borders. As for China, it has plenty of naval ambitions (Spratly islands, Taiwan) but no amphibious capability to speak of. I'm not sure how smart they are in fact playing it.</p>
ROFL. Man, you may have set a FR record for packing ridiculous statements in one post.
The Russians are saddled with a drunken, barbaric, unskilled conscript army and an almost totally rusting Navy. Most of the Chinese defense budget still goes for massive infantry formations of no use in a war against the US.
They do not spend money on nation building and getting bogged down in guerilla warfare anymore; the Russians learned their lesson from Afghanistan.
Except for that violent guerilla war in Chechnya the Russians have been involved in for forever.
Now, does this mean that we'll get to re-start the Cobra Ball program out of Shemya just to keep these guys in check? I thought we had enough to worry about with the Islamofascists, China and North Korea. If so, sign this middle aged Cold Warrior up for 1 or 2 two-week stints on The Rock. Give me a few weeks of Russian re-training and I'll be able launch in 10 minutes just like the olden days.
I did not reference the SS-18.
What is your point?
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