Out With The Old, But Slowly

The Strategy Page ^ | 12/11/2009 | The Strategy Page

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Russia plans to replace most of its older (Cold War era) ICBMs in the next five years. But all of these older missiles will not be retired until 2020. Currently, Russia has 538 ICBMs in service, 71 percent of them the most modern Topols (SS-25 and SS-27). Only 56 are the most modern, Topol-M design. About a dozen of these are the road-mobile versions, that avoid destruction in a first strike, by constantly moving around on the roads 200-300 kilometers northeast of Moscow. The 54 foot long transporter for these 46 ton missiles is a 16 wheel vehicle, using a 710 horsepower diesel engine. Most of the other Topol-M missiles in service are fired from underground silos. Russia continues to make component and design improvements to its most modern ICBM, the Topol M. This has increased its service life from ten to 21 years. Russia is in the midst of trying to replace Cold War era RS-18 (SS-19) and RS-20 (SS-18) ICBMs with the newer Topol M (also known as RS-24 or SS-27), more rapidly than earlier planned. This is the result of more money being allocated to buying ICBMs, and more reliable new ICBMs becoming available. A naval version of the Topol M (the Bulava), for use on SSBN submarines, was supposed to enter mass production in 2008, but technical problems caused that to be delayed for over a year.

Russia is not producing enough Topol Ms each year to replace the older liquid fuel missiles before their reach the end of their planned service life. So these older missiles are being refurbished, to extend their time in service. Russia continues to test launch RS-18 and RS-20 ICBMs.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Russia fixed ICBM complexes

[ASOC]

Topol M = US Peacekeeper? The USAF had proposed a road mobile version of the Peacekeeper, then the ill-fated rail-road mobile version.

Oddly the Command Car came to Alaska, and was then sold as surplus.