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Rocket troops. History of the missile forces

In the 2nd half of the 20th century, rocketry developed actively. Rockets were known earlier, but it was from this period that they began to be successfully used. Currently, with the help of rockets, astronauts reach orbital stations, distant planets are being studied, however, they have found the widest use in the military industry. Their appearance actually changed the conduct of war. When did it appear nuclear weapon, then missiles have become the main tool of deterrence, which guarantees the impossibility of developing a conflict between the most influential powers on the planet.

Purpose of the Strategic Missile Forces

The main weapons are intercontinental ballistic missiles(in short, ICBMs) silo-based or mobile, equipped with nuclear warheads that can hit targets anywhere on Earth. This type of weapon is part of the Strategic Missile Forces. It stands for rocket troops strategic purpose. This is a whole branch of the military, subordinate to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. It was organized on December 17, 1959. The date is considered the official day of the missile forces, when servicemen in the Strategic Missile Forces receive congratulations.

On March 24, 2001, by Decree of the President, the Strategic Missile Forces became a branch of the military, and previously they were their branch. Since mid-2010, Lieutenant General Karakaev became commander. These troops of constant combat readiness represent the ground part of the nuclear forces. They serve as a deterrent tool against possible aggression by corresponding blows from the enemy.

Compound

The RV includes a headquarters located in the village of Vlasikha Moscow Region, 3 missile armies, which include 12 divisions. The Strategic Missile Forces also include:

central training ground (known as Kapustin Yar);
test site in Kazakhstan;
NIS in Kamchatka, which has been part of the VKS since 2010;
fourth research institute;
Academy named after Petra in the Capital;
Institute of RV in Serpukhov.

The missile forces also own repair factories and arsenals, bases where equipment and weapons are stored.

According to unofficial data, as of the beginning of 2018, the troops have about 320 carriers with 1,214 nuclear warheads, and new ICBMs now account for about 3/5 of the total.

In the 90s and 2000s, the army-divisional structure affected all branches of the military, however, the exception was the Strategic Missile Forces. Here the structure, as well as the tasks, remain the same. As stated above, it consists of 3 armies, namely:

27 Vitebsk Red Banner, stationed in Vladimir (it includes 4 divisions located in Yoshkar-Ola, Ozerny, Kozelsk, Krasnye Sosenki, Svetly);
31 in Orenburg, Rostoshi (it includes 3 divisions: in Pervomaisky, Yasny, Dombarovsky and Svobodny);
33 Berislavsko-Khingan 2 Red Banner, Order of Suvorov in Omsk (it includes 4 divisions: in Irkutsk, Siberian, Gvardeysky in Novosibirsk-95 and Solnechny and Uzhur-4).

The Strategic Missile Forces own 7 airfields and 8 heliports. Aviation has Mi-8 helicopters, AN-12, 72, 26, 24 aircraft. In total, as of 2011, the aviation forces included about 80 air traffic vessels.

The central part contains 3 arsenals: in Khrysolitovoe, Surovatikha and Balezino-3.

The Strategic Missile Forces also include engineering units that have special vehicles MIOM, MDR, Listva and KDM.

For the purpose of anti-sabotage fight, created special units, as well as non-standard formations that protect various objects from enemy attack. Regular units are composed according to the organizational structure, and non-regular units are distributed by the commander depending on the situation. If necessary, these formations can be transferred to defense forces based in a specific territory.

How to join the missile forces

You can get into service in the Strategic Missile Forces by conscription, or by graduating from the appropriate higher military institution. Despite the fact that in the first case, one might say, the conscript was lucky, in reality it turns out that the service is not as exciting as it seemed. The fact is that in order to control missile systems it is necessary to undergo special training and receive an officer rank. Conscripts only have to do menial work, providing maintenance and security of facilities. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the complexes are located far from settlements, which means it won’t be possible to have fun celebrating your dismissal.

To obtain military education and officer rank, they study for 5 years. The training time is counted towards the service term. Cadets live in barracks or dormitories. Every year they have the right to a half-month rest in winter and month's vacation in summer.

Candidates must be between 16 and 22 years old if they have not served, or up to 24 years old if they have served in conscription. For contract soldiers, the age has been increased to 25 years. When documents are submitted for training in a secondary military preparatory program, then up to 30 years of age.

In accordance with the Law “On Military Duty and Service”, the following persons will not be considered as candidates if:

a decision was made on non-compliance with the necessary requirements (by the commissariat or commission);
any punishment has been imposed based on the conviction;
they are being investigated or the case has been referred to a judicial authority;
there is a criminal record in connection with the commission of a criminal act, and it has not yet been expunged;
are serving their sentences in correctional institutions;
deprived of the right to hold office for a certain period.

In addition, candidates must be in good health. If special forces, airborne forces, border troops and the navy are accepted only with full health, category A, then for the Strategic Missile Forces, as well as for anti-aircraft missile, chemical units, and Russian ground forces, the state of health must at least correspond to category B.

Depending on their rank, cadets receive different amounts of money, but it is certainly small. Those who will subsequently serve in the Strategic Missile Forces for the benefit of the Motherland can count on a good salary.

The Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) are currently a branch of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, directly subordinate to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

The Strategic Missile Forces were transformed from a type of military service into a branch of the military in accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 24, 2001. The commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Lieutenant General Sergei Viktorovich Karakaev, was appointed to this position by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of June 22, 2010.

As of the beginning of 2017, the Strategic Missile Forces were allegedly armed with 286 missile systems from five various types, which were capable of carrying 958 nuclear warheads:

Number of complexes		Total warheads
Missile complex	Warheads		Locations
R-36MUTTH/R-36M2 (SS-18)			Dombarovsky, Uzhur
UR-100NUTTKH (SS-19)			Tatishchevo
Poplar (SS-25)
Topol-M sh (SS-27)			Tatishchevo
Topol-M m (SS-27)
			Teykovo, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Tagil, Yoshkar-Ola, Vypolzovo
			Kozelsk
Total

Strategic Missile Forces units

As of the beginning of 2017, the missile armies of the Strategic Missile Forces included 11 missile divisions armed with combat missile systems.

Number of missile systems
Missile division		Type of missile system
27th Guards Ra (Vladimir)
Tatishchevo: 60 rd (Tatishchevo-5, Svetly)		UR-100NUTTKH (SS-19)
		Topol-M sh (SS-27)
Kozelsk: 28th Guards RD
Vypolzovo: 7th Guards Rd (Ozerny, Bologoe-4)
Teykovo: 54th Guards District (Red Sosenki)
	18	Topol-M m
Yoshkar-Ola: 14 rd.
31st ra (Rostoshi, Orenburg)
Dombarovsky: 13 rd (Yasny)		R-36M2 (SS-18)
Nizhny Tagil: 42 rd (Verkhnyaya Salda, Nizhny Tagil-41, Svobodny)
33rd Guards Ra (Omsk)
RA - missile army, rd - missile division, guards - guards Missile systems Rocket development R-36M2 (RS-20V, SS-18) was carried out by Yuzhnoye Design Bureau (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine). The R-36M2 missiles were deployed in 1988-1992. R-36M2 missiles are two-stage liquid-fueled and can carry 10 warheads. The missiles were produced by the Southern Machine-Building Plant (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine). The development plans of the Strategic Missile Forces provide for the preservation of R-36M2 missiles on combat duty until approximately 2022. Rockets UR-100NUTTKH (SS-19) were developed by NPO Mashinostroeniya (Reutov, Moscow region). The missiles were deployed in 1979-1984. The UR-100NUTTH missile is a two-stage liquid-fueled missile that carries 6 warheads. The production of rockets was carried out by the plant named after. M. V. Khrunicheva (Moscow). To date, some of the UR-100NUTTH missiles have been withdrawn from service. At the same time, some of the missiles will remain in service until 2019. At the same time, it is possible that the warheads with nuclear warheads will be removed from the missiles remaining in their silos (this practice was used in the 1970s with UR-100 missiles). Ground-based missile systems Poplar (SS-25) were developed at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering. The missiles were deployed in 1985-1992. The Topol complex missile is a three-stage solid-fuel missile that carries one warhead. The production of missiles was carried out by the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. Currently time is running the process of removing Topol systems from service due to the expiration of the missiles’ service life. It is planned that all missiles will be withdrawn from the Strategic Missile Forces in 2021. Missile complex Topol M (SS-27) and its modification RS-24 Yars developed at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering. The complex was created in a mine-based version and in a ground mobile version. The Topol-M missile is a three-stage solid-fuel missile, initially created in a monoblock version. In 2007, tests were carried out on a version of the missile equipped with a MIRV, designated RS-24 Yars. The deployment of RS-24 complexes in a mobile version began in 2010.

The origin of the Strategic Missile Forces is associated with the development of domestic and foreign missile weapons, then nuclear missile weapons, and the improvement of their combat use. In the history of RV:

1946 - 1959 - creation of nuclear weapons and the first samples of guided ballistic missiles, deployment of missile formations capable of solving operational tasks in front-line operations and strategic tasks in nearby theaters of military operations.

1959 - 1965 - formation of the Strategic Missile Forces, deployment and putting on combat duty missile formations and units of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and medium-range missiles (RSMs), capable of solving strategic problems in military-geographical areas and in any theaters of military operations.

In 1962, the Strategic Missile Forces took part in Operation Anadyr, during which 42 R-12 and R-14 RSDs were secretly deployed in Cuba, and made a significant contribution to resolving the Cuban Missile Crisis and preventing the American invasion of Cuba.

1965 - 1973 - deployment of a group of intercontinental ballistic missiles with single launches (OS) of the 2nd generation, equipped with monoblock warheads (WM), turning the Strategic Missile Forces into the main one component strategic nuclear forces, which made a major contribution to achieving military-strategic balance (parity) between the USSR and the USA.

1973 - 1985 - equipping the Strategic Missile Forces with 3rd generation intercontinental ballistic missiles with multiple warheads and means of overcoming the missile defense of a potential enemy and mobile long-range missile systems.

1985 - 1992 - arming the Strategic Missile Forces with intercontinental stationary and mobile missile systems of the 4th generation, liquidation in 1988 -1991. medium range missiles.

Since 1992 - the formation of the Strategic Missile Forces of the RF Armed Forces, the elimination of missile systems of intercontinental ballistic missiles on the territory of Ukraine and Kazakhstan and the withdrawal of mobile Topol ballistic missile systems from Belarus to Russia, the re-equipment of obsolete types of missile systems on ballistic missile systems with unified monoblock missiles stationary and mobile based Topol -M” 5th generation.

The material basis for the creation of the Strategic Missile Forces was the deployment in the USSR of a new branch of the defense industry - rocketry. In accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated May 13, 1946 No. 1017-419 “Issues of jet weapons,” cooperation between the main ministries of industry was determined, research and experimental work began, and a Special Committee on Jet Technology was created under the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

The Ministry of the Armed Forces has formed: a special artillery unit for the development, preparation and launch of V-2 type missiles, the Research Jet Institute of the Main Artillery Directorate, the State Central Range of Jet Technology (Kapustin Yar range), and the Directorate of Jet Weapons within the GAU. The first missile formation armed with long-range ballistic missiles was the brigade special purpose RVGK (commander - Major General of Artillery A.F. Tveretsky). In December 1950, the second special purpose brigade was formed, in 1951 - 1955. - 5 more formations that received a new name (since 1953) - engineering brigades of the RVGK. Until 1955, they were armed with ballistic missiles R-1, R-2, with a range of 270 km and 600 km, equipped with a warhead with conventional explosives (general designer S.P. Korolev). By 1958, brigade personnel conducted more than 150 combat training missile launches. From 1946 to 1954, the brigades were part of the artillery of the RVGK and were subordinate to the artillery commander of the Soviet Army. They were managed by a special department of the artillery headquarters of the Soviet Army. In March 1955, the position of Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR for special weapons and rocket technology was introduced (Marshal of Artillery M.I. Nedelin), under which the headquarters of the rocket units was created.

The combat use of engineering brigades was determined by the order of the Supreme High Command, the decision of which provided for the assignment of these formations to the fronts. The front commander led the engineering brigades through the artillery commander.

On October 4, 1957, from the Baikonur test site, the personnel of a separate engineering test unit carried out a successful launch of the first artificial Earth satellite using the R-7 combat rocket for the first time in world history. Thanks to the efforts of Soviet rocket scientists, a new era in the history of mankind began - the era of practical astronautics.

In the 2nd half of the 50s. The strategic RSD R-5 and R-12 equipped with nuclear warheads (general designers S.P. Korolev and M.K. Yangel) with a range of 1200 and 2000 km and ICBMs R-7 and R-7A were adopted into service with formations and units. (general designer S.P. Korolev). In 1958, the engineering brigades of the RVGK, armed with operational-tactical missiles R-11 and R-11M, were transferred to Ground Forces. The first ICBM formation was the facility with the code name “Angara” (commander - Colonel M.G. Grigoriev), which completed its formation at the end of 1958. In July 1959, the personnel of this formation carried out the first combat training launch of ICBMs in the USSR.

The need for centralized leadership of troops equipped with strategic missiles determined the organizational design of a new type of armed forces. In accordance with Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1384-615 dated December 17, 1959, the Strategic Missile Forces were created as independent species Sun. According to Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1239 of December 10, 1995, this day is celebrated as an annual holiday - Strategic Missile Forces Day.

On 12/31/1959 the following were formed: the Main Headquarters of the Missile Forces, Central command post with a communications center and a computer center, Main Directorate missile weapons, combat training department, a number of other departments and services. The Strategic Missile Forces included the 12th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, which was in charge of nuclear weapons, engineering formations previously subordinate to the Deputy Minister of Defense for Special Weapons and Jet Technology, missile regiments and directorates of 3 Air Force air divisions, missile arsenals, bases and warehouses special weapons. The Strategic Missile Forces also included the 4th State Central Training Ground of the Moscow Region (Kapustin Yar); 5th Research Test Site of the Ministry of Defense (Baikonur); separate scientific testing station in the village. Keys in Kamchatka; 4th Research Institute of Moscow Region (Bolshevo, Moscow region). In 1963, on the basis of the Angara facility, the 53rd Scientific Research Test Site for Missile and Space Weapons of the Ministry of Defense (Plesetsk) was formed.

On June 22, 1960, the Military Council of the Strategic Missile Forces was created, which included M.I. Nedelin (chairman), V.A. Bolyatko, P.I. Efimov, M.A. Nikolsky, A.I. Semenov, V.F. Tolubko, F.P. Tonkikh, M.I. Ponomarev. In 1960, the Regulations on combat duty of units and subunits of the Strategic Missile Forces were put into effect. In order to centralize the combat control of the Missile Forces with strategic weapons, organs and control points at the strategic, operational and tactical levels were included in the structure of the Strategic Missile Forces control system, and automated systems for communication and control of troops and combat assets were introduced.

In 1960 - 1961 On the basis of long-range aviation air armies, missile armies were formed, which included RSD formations. The engineering brigades and regiments of the RVGK were reorganized into missile divisions and RSD missile brigades, and the directorates of artillery training ranges and ICBM brigades were reorganized into the directorates of missile corps and divisions. The main combat unit in an RSD formation was a missile division, and in an ICBM formation - a missile regiment. Until 1966, the intercontinental ballistic missile systems R-16 and R-9A were put into service (general designers M.K. Yangel and S.P. Korolev). In the RSD troops, subunits and units were formed armed with the R-12U, R-14U ballistic missile launchers with cluster silo launchers (general designer M.K. Yangel). The first missile formations and units were staffed mainly by officers from the artillery, navy, air force and ground forces. Their retraining for missile specialties was carried out at training centers at test sites, at industrial enterprises and at courses at military educational institutions, and subsequently by instructor groups in units.

In 1965 - 1973 The Strategic Missile Forces are equipped with ballistic missile systems OS RS-10, RS-12, R-36, dispersed over a large area (general designers M.K. Yangel, V.N. Chelomey). In 1970, in order to improve troop leadership and increase the reliability of combat control, missile army directorates were created on the basis of the missile corps directorates. Formations and units with single silo launchers were capable of delivering a guaranteed retaliatory strike in any conditions at the start of the war. DBK 2nd generation provided remote launch of missiles in as soon as possible, high accuracy of hitting the target and survivability of troops and weapons, improvement of operating conditions for missile weapons.

In 1973 - 1985 The Strategic Missile Forces adopted the stationary DBK RS-16, RS-20A, RS-20B and RS-18 (general designers V.F. Utkin and V.N. Chelomey) and the mobile ground DBK RSD-10 (“Pioneer” ”) (general designer A.D. Nadiradze), equipped with multiple individually targeted warheads. Missiles and control points for stationary ballistic missile systems were located in especially highly secure structures. The missiles use autonomous control systems from an on-board computer, providing remote re-aiming of the missiles before launch.

In 1985 - 1992 The Strategic Missile Forces were armed with missile launchers with RS-22 silo- and railway-based missiles (general designer V.F. Utkin) and modernized RS-20V silo-based and RS-12M ground-based missiles (general designers V.F. Utkin and A.D. Nadiradze). These complexes have increased combat readiness, high survivability and resistance to damaging factors nuclear explosion, operational re-aiming and increased autonomy.

The quantitative and qualitative composition of nuclear weapons carriers and warheads of the Strategic Missile Forces, as well as other components of strategic nuclear forces, has been limited since 1972 by the maximum levels established by the Treaties between the USSR (Russia) and the USA. In accordance with the Treaty between the USSR and the USA on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (1987), RSDs and launchers for them were destroyed, including 72 RSD-10 (“Pioneer”) missiles - by launching from field combat launch positions in districts Chita and Kansk.

In 1997, the Strategic Missile Forces, the Military Space Forces, and the missile and space defense forces of the Air Defense Forces of the RF Armed Forces were united into a single branch of the RF Armed Forces - the Strategic Missile Forces. Since June 2001, the Strategic Missile Forces have been transformed into 2 types of troops - Strategic Missile Forces and Space Forces.

The priority directions for the further development of the Strategic Missile Forces are: maintaining the combat readiness of the existing group of troops, maximizing the extension of the operational life of missile systems, completing the development and deployment at the required pace of modern stationary and mobile-based Topol-M missile systems, developing a system of combat command and control of troops and weapons, creating scientific and technical groundwork for promising models of weapons and equipment of the Strategic Missile Forces.

Purpose of strategic missile forces

Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN), a branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, main component its strategic nuclear forces. Designed for nuclear deterrence of possible aggression and destruction as part of strategic nuclear forces or by independent massive, group or single nuclear missile strikes of strategic targets located in one or several strategic aerospace directions and forming the basis of the enemy’s military and military-economic potentials.

The role and place of the Strategic Missile Forces in the emerging system of ensuring strategic stability and national security

The modern world is characterized by highly dynamic system transformation international relations. After the end of the era of bipolar confrontation, contradictory trends emerged towards the formation of a multipolar world and the establishment of dominance by one country or group of countries. Moreover, their implementation is often based on military-force methods of solving problems of world politics, which run counter to existing norms of world law. Thus, relying on military force still tops the list of measures to resolve crisis situations in the world.

Russia, as one of the largest states in the world with a unique geostrategic position, centuries-old history and rich cultural traditions, which has significant economic, scientific, technical and military potential, cannot remain aloof from ongoing global processes. To achieve your national interests it is interested in maintaining stable international relations between the most economically and militarily powerful states and strategic stability in general, both on a global and regional scale. Therefore, as priority areas To ensure its military security, Russia is considering strengthening a set of measures to maintain strategic stability, prevent military conflicts and prevent their escalation. In implementing these measures, Russia relies on deterrence potential, the main purpose of which is to prevent and suppress attempts by states or coalitions of states to resolve contradictions with the Russian Federation and its allies through military force through a convincing demonstration of determination and readiness to use force.

Today Russia has sufficient military power. The plan for the construction and development of the Armed Forces provides for their further organizational improvement and qualitative development of weapons and military equipment. However, an important feature of the current situation is that the reform of the Russian Armed Forces has not yet been completed. A number of states and their alliances have gained significant superiority in general-purpose forces. In the current economic situation in the country, the main real military force capable of compensating for potential military threats to Russia remains strategic nuclear forces(SNF).

It should be noted that if in the initial period of its existence nuclear weapons were considered as a powerful offensive means of achieving superiority in war, today they have largely become a political means of achieving goals, fulfilling their function of deterring a potential aggressor. Therefore, in the current conditions, Russia, as defined in the Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation, considers nuclear missile weapons as one of the most important factors deterring aggression, ensuring its military security, maintaining international stability and peace.

However, what is holding back is not only and not so much the presence of nuclear weapons, but their actual combat characteristics and high capabilities for its combat use in any situation. Today, Russia's strategic nuclear forces are most consistent with the country's geostrategic and economic position. Possessing global reach, enormous destructive power and without requiring prohibitive maintenance costs, they make it possible to provide deterrence functions at the lowest cost relative to countries that have significant superiority in economic and human resources, as well as in the level of equipment of troops with modern, highly effective conventional weapons. In addition, the presence of strategic nuclear forces and their high combat readiness enable Russia to carry out long-term and economically difficult reform of the Armed Forces and the entire military organization of the state.

The Strategic Missile Forces are one of the three components of strategic nuclear forces (along with naval and aviation strategic nuclear forces). Due to their geostrategic position, the Soviet Union, and then Russia, traditionally gave priority in the development of their strategic nuclear forces to the ground component - the Strategic Missile Forces. Therefore, even today, approximately 2/3 of all carriers and warheads of strategic nuclear forces are concentrated in their combat composition. The role of the Strategic Missile Forces in the strategic nuclear forces is determined not only by quantitative parameters, but also by their inherent qualitative characteristics, such as: high combat readiness and survivability of missile systems, efficiency and stability of combat control, including under enemy influence.

An indirect confirmation of the “weight” of the Strategic Missile Forces in the strategic nuclear forces is that the United States for many years considered the ground-based ICBMs of the Soviet Union as nuclear weapons that pose the greatest threat to their national security. That is why during the START negotiations they always sought to limit the capabilities of the Strategic Missile Forces to a greater extent. Thus, more than 80% of the restrictions of the START I Treaty relate to ICBMs. Further restrictions on ground-based missiles are provided for by the START-2 Treaty (elimination of ICBMs with MIRVs, special procedures for the elimination of heavy ICBMs and their silos). The draft START-3 Treaty, as well as the START-1 and START-2 Treaties, imposes the main restrictions on the ground force strategic missiles nal complexes of stationary and mobile types.

From June 1 this year The Strategic Missile Forces were transformed from a branch of the Armed Forces into two independent but closely interacting branches of troops under central command: the Space Forces and the Strategic Missile Forces. During the reorganization process, the Strategic Missile Forces retained their combat capabilities and the ability to timely carry out their combat missions for nuclear deterrence. As before, the Missile Forces with the entire existing nuclear missile group, the centralized combat command system and the previously created infrastructure remain combat ready and now, as a branch of the centrally subordinate troops, continue to carry out the tasks assigned to them.

At the same time, the Construction and Development Plan of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, developed for the period until 2005, provided for the qualitative development of the Strategic Missile Forces by re-equipping them with the new Topol-M missile system with more advanced combat and technical characteristics. This complex subsequently formed the basis of the Strategic Missile Forces grouping.

The planned reduction of the Strategic Missile Forces group in the coming years will be carried out taking into account international agreements on strategic offensive arms and the expiration of the operational life of the corresponding missile systems and combat control systems.

Based on this, the prospects for the further development of the Strategic Missile Forces provide for the solution of two main tasks:

Guaranteed provision of nuclear deterrence against aggression against Russia at a minimum sufficient level;
Bringing the strength of the Strategic Missile Forces into line with the new organizational structure and the combat missions assigned to them.

The quantitative and qualitative parameters of the Strategic Missile Forces grouping are determined by a number of factors, of which the following are of paramount importance:

Firstly, the economic capabilities of the state. It is no secret that these opportunities are currently quite limited. Therefore, the chosen path to ensure Russia’s military security, relying on nuclear potential, maintained at a level minimally sufficient to solve the problems of deterrence, today seems to be the most appropriate;
Secondly, fulfillment of contractual obligations. As is known, in accordance with the START-2 Treaty, by 2007 the Missile Forces had to eliminate all heavy PC-20 missiles with multiple warheads and re-equip the PC-18 missile with a monoblock warhead, that is, switch completely to a group of monoblock missiles;
Thirdly, the state of the military-political situation in the world and the level of military threats to Russia. Today the situation is such that we have no reason to talk about the possibility of large-scale aggression against Russia in traditional forms in the foreseeable future, even if the nuclear deterrent potential is maintained at a lower level. Expert assessments show that in the modern military-political situation, the task of nuclear deterrence can be solved by reducing the total number of warheads in strategic nuclear forces to 1,500 units. Taking into account the economic situation in the country, a mutual reduction to this level nuclear potentials parties would meet the long-term interests of Russia.

Composition of the Strategic Missile Forces and location

The Strategic Missile Forces include three missile armies: the 27th Guards Missile Army (headquarters located in Vladimir), the 31st Missile Army (Orenburg), and the 33rd Guards Missile Army (Omsk). The 53rd Missile Army (Chita) was disbanded at the end of 2002. It is also planned that over the next few years the 31st Missile Army (Orenburg) will be disbanded. As of July 2004, the missile armies of the Strategic Missile Forces include 15 missile divisions that are armed with combat missile systems. According to the Strategic Missile Forces development plan, published in November 2004, the number of missile divisions will be reduced to 10-12.

Now in the Strategic Missile Forces, the main areas for the deployment of silo launchers of intercontinental ballistic missiles are six areas: Kozelsk, Tatishchevo, Dombarovsky, Uzhur, Kartaly, Aleysk, in which RS-20, RS-18, UR-100UTTH and some others missiles are on combat duty, as well as nine patrol areas of mobile DBK "Topol" and "Topol-M": Yoshkar-Ola, Teykovo, Novosibirsk, Kansk, Irkutsk, Barnaul, Nizhny Tagil, Vypolzovo, Drovyanaya. 12 RS-22 “Scalpel” launchers at the railway complex are located at permanent deployment points in Kostroma, Krasnoyarsk and Perm.

Missile systems of the Strategic Missile Forces

As of July 2004, the Strategic Missile Forces were armed with 608 missile systems of five different types, which were capable of carrying 2,365 nuclear warheads:

*Missile complex*	*Power of one warhead, kt*	*Number of warheads*	*Total power, kt*	*Locations*
R-36MUTTH/R-36M2 (SS-18)	108	10	1080	Dombarovsky, Kartaly, Uzhur
UR-100NUTTKH (SS-19)	130	6	780	Kozelsk, Tatishchevo
RT-23UTTH (SS-24)	15	10	150	Kostroma
Poplar (SS-25)	315	1	315	Teykovo, Yoshkar-Ola, Yurya, Nizhny Tagil, Novosibirsk, Kansk, Irkutsk, Barnaul, Vypolzovo
Topol-M (SS-27)	40	1	40	Tatishchevo

Technical equipment of the Strategic Missile Forces

At the end of 2003, the new Iskander operational-tactical missile system will enter service with the Russian Ground Forces. Its deliveries, as reported by Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Moskovsky, are provided for by the state defense order for the current year.

Iskander is designed to strike particularly important small targets. The firing range of the complex does not exceed 300 km. It has two missiles per launcher, which greatly increases firepower missile divisions and brigades. It hits targets with exceptional accuracy, which is equivalent in effectiveness to the use of nuclear weapons. Iskander was developed at the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau.

Its sample was first demonstrated at the Ural exhibition of weapons and military equipment in Nizhny Tagil in July 2000.

The development of the R-36MUTTH (also known as RS-20B and SS-18) and R-36M2 (RS-20V, SS-18) missiles was carried out by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine). The deployment of R-36MUTTH missiles was carried out in 1979-1983, and the R-36M2 missiles in 1988-1992. The R-36MUTTH and R-36M2 missiles are two-stage liquid-fueled and can carry 10 warheads (there is also a monoblock version of the missile). The production of missiles was carried out by the Southern Machine-Building Plant (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine). The development plans of the Strategic Missile Forces provide for the preservation of all R-36M2 missiles (about 50 missiles) on combat duty. Subject to the planned extension of service life to 25-30 years, the R-36M2 missiles will be able to remain on combat duty until approximately 2020. The R-36MUTTH missiles were planned to be withdrawn from service by 2008.

The UR-100NUTTKH (SS-19) missiles were developed by NPO Mashinostroeniya (Reutov, Moscow region). The missiles were deployed in 1979-1984. The UR-100NUTTH missile is a two-stage liquid-fueled missile that carries 6 warheads. The production of rockets was carried out by the plant named after. M. V. Khrunicheva (Moscow). To date, some of the UR-100NUTTH missiles have been withdrawn from service. At the same time, based on test launch results, the missile's lifespan appears to have been extended to at least 25 years, meaning these missiles could be stored for several years. In addition, Russia purchased 30 UR-100NUTTH missiles from Ukraine, which were in storage. Once deployed, these missiles are planned to remain in service until approximately 2030.

The RT-23UTTH (SS-24) missiles were developed at the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau (Dnepropetrovsk). Versions of the rocket were created for the silo-based complex and the railway-based complex. The deployment of the railway version of the complex was carried out in 1987-1991, the mine version in 1988-1989. The RT-23UTTH three-stage solid-fuel missile carries 10 warheads. The production of missiles was carried out by the Pavlograd Machine-Building Plant (Ukraine). To date, the process of removing RT-23UTTH missiles from service is underway - all silo-based complexes have been eliminated, and in 2005 it is planned to eliminate the last railway complexes.

The Topol (SS-25) ground-based missile systems were developed at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering. The missiles were deployed in 1985-1992. The Topol complex missile is a three-stage solid-fuel missile that carries one warhead. The production of missiles was carried out by the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. To date, the process of removing the Topol complexes from service has begun due to the expiration of the missiles’ service life.

Brief description of missiles

Pioneer-3

"Pioneer-3" is a mobile ground-based missile system with a two-stage medium-range ballistic missile. The development of the complex was carried out by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering. Tested in 1986.

A more advanced launcher and new, more efficient and accurate warheads have been developed for the missile. The design bureau of the Minsk Automobile Plant developed a rocket carrier with more comfortable and cozy cabins for personnel. Tests of the complex were interrupted during negotiations on the elimination of medium- and shorter-range missiles. Serial production of missiles was not launched.

R-36M. 15A14 (RS-20A)

R-36M is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. It was equipped with a monoblock warhead and a MIRV IN with ten warheads. Developed at Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Mikhail Yangel and Vladimir Utkin. Development began on September 2, 1969. LCTs were carried out from 1972 to October 1975. Tests of the warhead as part of the complex were carried out until November 29, 1979. The complex was put on combat duty on December 25, 1974. Entered service on December 30, 1975.

The first stage is equipped with an RD-264 main engine, consisting of four single-chamber RD-263 engines. The engine was developed at Design Bureau Energomash under the leadership of Valentin Glushko. The second stage is equipped with a propulsion engine RD-0228, developed at the Chemical Automation Design Bureau under the leadership of Alexander Konopatov. The fuel components are UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide. The OS silo was finalized at KBSM under the leadership of Vladimir Stepanov. The launch method is mortar. The control system is autonomous, inertial. Developed at NII-692 under the leadership of Vladimir Sergeev. A set of means for overcoming missile defense was developed at TsNIRTI. The combat stage is equipped with a solid propellant propulsion system. The unified control gear was developed at TsKB TM by the leadership of Nikolai Krivoshein and Boris Aksyutin.

Serial production of missiles began at the Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant in 1974.

Performance characteristics of the missile"Voevoda" R-36M2. 15A18M
Maximum firing range with a “light” monoblock warhead	16,000 km
Firing range of a missile with a “heavy” warhead	11,200 km
Firing range of a missile with MIRV IN	10,200 km
Maximum launch weight	211 t
Head weight	7.3 t
Rocket length	34 m
Maximum body diameter	3m
Fuel weight	188 t
	400 tf
	450 tf
	293 kgf s/kg
	312 kgf·s/kg
Pressure in the combustion chamber of the first stage propulsion engine	200 atm
Inner diameter of reinforced concrete silo shaft	5.9 m
Silo barrel depth	39 m
Missile combat readiness	30 s

R-36M UTTH. 15A18 (RS-20B)

R-36M UTTH is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. Developed at Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Vladimir Utkin. Equipped with a MIRV with ten warheads. Development began on August 16, 1976. LCTs were carried out at the Baikonur test site from October 31, 1977 to November 1979. The complex was put on combat duty on September 18, 1979. Entered service on December 17, 1980.

The maximum firing range is 11,500 km.
The initially established guaranteed shelf life is 10 years.

The main characteristics of the R-36M UTTH missile are similar to those of the R-36M.

"Voevoda" R-36M2. 15A18M (RS-20V)

R-36M2 is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. It was equipped with a MIRV IN with ten warheads and a monoblock warhead. Developed at Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Vladimir Utkin. The technical proposal was developed in June 1979. Development began on August 9, 1983. LCTs were carried out from March 1986 to March 1988. The complex was put into service on August 11, 1988. Placed on combat duty in December 1988.

The first stage is equipped with an RD-274 main engine, consisting of four autonomous single-chamber RD-273 propulsion blocks. Developed under the leadership of Valentin Glushko and Vitaly Radovsky. The second stage is equipped with a single-chamber main engine RD-0255, made in a closed circuit. The liquid-propellant rocket engine was developed at the Chemical Automatics Design Bureau under the leadership of Alexander Konopatov. The second stage steering engine has four rotary combustion chambers and one fuel pump. The fuel components are UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide. The autonomous inertial control system was developed under the leadership of the chief designer of the Kharkov NII-692 (NPO Khartron) Vladimir Sergeev. The unified control gear was developed at TsKB TM under the leadership of Boris Aksyutin. The missile is equipped with a set of means to overcome enemy missile defenses.

Serial production of missiles has been launched at the Southern Machine-Building Plant in Dnepropetrovsk.

Performance characteristics of the missile "Voevoda" R-36M2. 15A18M
	11,000 km
	15,000 km
Maximum launch weight	211 t
Head weight	8.8 t
Rocket length	34.3 m
Maximum body diameter	3m
Thrust of the first stage propulsion engine at the ground	144 tf
	296 kgf s/kg
	15 years.

MR-UR-100. 15A15 (RS-16A)

MR-UR-100 is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. It was equipped with a MIRV IN with four warheads and a monoblock warhead. Developed at Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Mikhail Yangel and Vladimir Utkin. Development of the project began in 1967. The government decree was issued on September 2, 1969. Flight development tests were carried out from December 26, 1972 to December 17, 1974 at the Baikonur training ground. The complex was put into service on December 30, 1975. Placed on combat duty on May 6, 1975.

The launcher was developed at the Leningrad Special Engineering Design Bureau under the leadership of Alexei Utkin. The launch method is mortar. A unified mine-type high-security gearbox was developed at TsKB TM under the leadership of Nikolai Krivoshein and Boris Aksyutin. The first stage is equipped with a sustainer single-chamber fixedly mounted liquid propellant rocket engine RD-268, made in a closed circuit. The steering engine has four rotary combustion chambers. The first stage propulsion rocket engine was developed at the Energomash Design Bureau under the leadership of Valentin Glushko. The second stage is equipped with a single-chamber fixed-mounted 15D169 engine, developed at KB-4 of the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Ivan Ivanov. Control of the second stage is ensured by gas injection into the supercritical part of the nozzle and four steering nozzles. The fuel components are UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide. The propulsion of warheads is carried out using a solid-fuel rocket engine. The control system is autonomous, inertial. Developed at the Research Institute of AP under the leadership of Nikolai Pilyugin. Gyroscopic devices were developed at the Research Institute of Applied Mechanics under the leadership of Viktor Kuznetsov. Solid propellant charges of powder pressure accumulators were developed under the leadership of the chief designer of LNPO Soyuz Boris Zhukov. The missile is equipped with a missile defense penetration system developed at TsNIRTI. For the MR-UR-100, R-36M and UR-100N missile systems, the Leningrad NPO Impulse developed a unified automated combat control system.

Serial production of missiles began at the Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant in 1973.

Performance characteristics of the missile MR-UR-100. 15A15
Maximum firing range of a missile with MIRV IN	10,200 km
Maximum firing range of a missile with a monoblock warhead	10,300 km
Maximum launch weight	71 t
Head weight	2.5 t
Rocket length	21 m
Maximum first stage casing diameter	2.25 m
Maximum diameter of the second stage body	2.1 m
Thrust of the first stage propulsion engine at the ground	117 tf
Specific thrust impulse of the first stage engine at the ground	296 kgf s/kg
Initial warranty period	10 years

MR-UR-100 UTTH. 15A16 (RS-16B)

MR-UR-100 UTTH is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. It was equipped with a MIRV IN with four warheads and a monoblock warhead. Developed at Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Vladimir Utkin. Development began on August 16, 1976. Flight development tests were carried out from October 25, 1977 to December 15, 1979 at the Baikonur training ground. The complex was put on combat duty on October 17, 1978. Entered service on December 17, 1980.

The main characteristics of the MR-UR-100 UTTH missile are similar to those of the MR-UR-100.

"Perimeter" 15A11

"Perimeter" is a command missile. The development of a preliminary design for the command missile of the Perimeter system began at the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Vladimir Utkin in accordance with the government decree of August 30, 1974. In December 1975, a preliminary design of the rocket was developed.

In December 1977, a preliminary design of the 15A11 command missile with the 15B99 warhead of the Perimeter system was developed. In December 1979, the first launches of 15A11 missiles were carried out to test and issue missile launch commands during a special period. In March 1982, flight tests of the rocket were completed.

UR-100N. 15A30 (RS-18A)

UR-100N is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. Equipped with MIRV IN with six warheads. Developed at the Central Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering under the leadership of Vladimir Chelomey and at Branch No. 1 of the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering under the leadership of Viktor Bugaisky. Development began on September 2, 1969. Tests were carried out at the Baikonur test site from April 9, 1973 to October 1975. The complex was put on combat duty on April 26, 1975. Entered service on December 30, 1975.

The OS silo launch complex was developed at Branch No. 2 of TsKBM (GNIP OKB Vympel) under the leadership of Vladimir Baryshev. The launch method is gas-dynamic. The first stage was equipped with four sustaining single-chamber rotary liquid propellant engines RD-0233 and RD-0234. The engines are made in a closed circuit. For the second stage, single-chamber liquid propellant engines were created: RD-0235, made according to a closed circuit, and RD-0236, made according to open circuit. The second stage propulsion engine is installed motionless. Main stage liquid propellant engines of the first and second stages and combat stage liquid propellant engines were developed at the Chemical Automatics Design Bureau under the leadership of Alexander Konopatov. The second stage is controlled by a steering motor with four PTZ cameras combustion. The fuel components are UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide. Brake motors were developed in KB-2 of plant No. 81 (Iskra MKB) under the leadership of Ivan Kartukov. The autonomous inertial control system was developed at the Kharkov Research Institute-692 (NPO Khartron) under the leadership of Vladimir Sergeev.

Serial production of missiles began in 1974 at the Moscow Machine-Building Plant named after M.V. Khrunichev.

UR-100N UTTH. 15A35 (RS-18B)

UR-100N UTTH is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. Equipped with MIRV IN with six warheads. Developed at the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering under the leadership of Vladimir Chelomey and Herbert Efremov. Development began on August 16, 1976. Tests were carried out at the Baikonur test site from December 1977 to June 1979. The complex was put into service on December 17, 1980. Placed on combat duty in January 1981. Serial production of missiles at the Moscow Machine-Building Plant named after M. Khrunichev continued until 1985.

The main characteristics of the UR-100N UTTH missile are similar to the characteristics of the UR-100N missile.

RT-23. 15Zh43

RT-23. 15Zh43 is a combat railway missile system with a solid-fuel three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. Development was carried out at the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Mikhail Yangel in accordance with the order of the Minister of General Engineering “On the creation of a mobile combat railway missile system (BZHRK) with the RT-23 missile” dated January 13, 1969. In October 1975, construction of the solid fuel engine assembly housing for the RT-23 ICBM began at the Pavlograd Mechanical Plant.

RT-23. 15Zh44

RT-23. 15Zh44 is a solid-fuel three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile for silo launchers. Development was carried out at the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Mikhail Yangel in accordance with the decree of the government of the country dated July 23, 1976. The control system was created at the Research Institute of Automation and Instrumentation under the leadership of Nikolai Pilyugin and Vladimir Lapygin.
The first preliminary design of a rocket with a monoblock warhead was completed in March 1977. On June 1, 1979, a government decree was issued on the development of the MIRV IN missile. The second, modified, preliminary design of a rocket with MIRV IN 15F143 and increased energy was completed in December 1979. Flight testing of the silo version began in December 1982. On February 10, 1983, by decision of the USSR Defense Council, the RT-23 missile was launched. 15Zh44 is not accepted for service.

RT-23. 15Zh52 (RS-22)

RT-23.15Zh52 is a solid-fuel three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile for the BZHRK. Equipped with a MIRV with ten warheads. Developed at Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Mikhail Yangel and Vladimir Utkin. Development began in 1976. The government decree was issued on July 6, 1979. The complex was put into trial operation on February 10, 1983, but was not accepted for service.

The autonomous control system was developed at the Moscow Research Institute of Automation and Instrumentation under the leadership of Vladimir Lapygin. The launcher was developed at the Leningrad Design Bureau Spetsmash under the leadership of Alexey Utkin. The launch method is mortar. The missile is equipped with a set of means to overcome missile defense. The mixed fuel and solid propellant charge of the first stage of the rocket were developed in Biysk under the leadership of Yakov Savchenko, the second and third stages - in Dzerzhinsky under the leadership of Boris Zhukov. The command module was developed at TsKBTM under the leadership of Boris Aksyutin and Alexander Leontenkov.

The assembly of missiles was mastered at the Pavlograd Mechanical Plant. The railway launcher was mass-produced by the Yurga Machine-Building Plant.

“Well done” RT-23UTTH. 15Zh60 (RS-22)

RT-23 UTTH is a solid-fuel three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile for three types of deployment. Equipped with a MIRV with ten warheads. The development of the Molodets RT-23 UTTH complex began at the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau under the leadership of Vladimir Utkin on August 9, 1983. Tests of the 15Zh60 mine version at the Plesetsk test site took place from July 31, 1986 to September 26, 1988. The complex in the OS silo was put on combat duty on August 19, 1988. Entered service on November 28, 1989.
The silo was developed at the State Scientific Research Institute "OKB Vympel" under the leadership of Oleg Baskakov. The launch method is mortar. The autonomous control system was developed at the Moscow Research Institute of Automation and Instrumentation under the leadership of Vladimir Lapygin. The mixed fuel and solid propellant charge of the first stage of the rocket were developed in Biysk under the leadership of Yakov Savchenko, the second and third stages - in Dzerzhinsky under the leadership of Boris Zhukov. The system of temperature-humidity conditions and heat removal was created at the Moscow Design Bureau of Transport and Chemical Engineering. The missile is equipped with a set of means to overcome missile defense.

Topol-M (SS-27)

The Topol-M (SS-27) missile system was developed at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering. The complex is being created in a mine-based version and in a ground mobile version. The deployment of the mine version of the complex began in 1997. Testing of the mobile version of the complex was completed in December 2004. The deployment of mobile complexes is planned to begin in 2006. From three to nine complexes will be put into operation annually. The Topol-M missile is a three-stage solid-fuel missile, created in a monoblock version. The production of missiles is carried out by the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant.

Three engines allow it to gain speed much faster than all previous types of rockets. In addition, several dozen auxiliary engines and control equipment provide flight that is unpredictable for the enemy.

R-1. 8A11

R-1 is a single-stage tactical ballistic missile (long-range ballistic missile). Developed at NII-88 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev. Chief designer - Alexander Shcherbakov. The work was started by Korolev in 1946. The government decree on development was issued on April 14, 1948. Tests at the Kapustin Yar test site were carried out from September 17, 1948 to October 1949. The complex was put into service on November 25, 1950.
The RD-100 (8D51) sustainer single-chamber liquid propellant engine was developed at OKB-456 under the leadership of Valentin Glushko. Fuel components - ethanol and liquid oxygen. The complex of ground-based equipment was developed at GSKB Spetsmash under the leadership of Vladimir Barmin. The starting device is a stationary ground table. The launch method is gas-dynamic (the launch was carried out by the main engine). The control system is autonomous, inertial. Developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Nikolai Pilyugin and at NII-944 under the leadership of Viktor Kuznetsov. The transport units of the missile system were developed by the Moscow KBTM under the leadership of Anatoly Gurevich. The rocket installer was developed at the Central Design Bureau for Heavy Engineering under the leadership of Nikolai Leikin. Fuel tanks are suspended (non-load-bearing). Controls: air and gas jet rudders. The missile has a monoblock non-nuclear warhead that cannot be separated in flight.
The production of missiles has been launched at the Experimental Plant NII-88 in Podlipki. Serial production of R-1 missiles and RD-100 engines was launched in November 1952 at the State Union Plant No. 586 in Dnepropetrovsk.

***Performance characteristics of the missile* R-1. 8A11**
	270 km
Maximum launch weight	13.4 t
Dry weight of the rocket	4 t
Head weight	1 t
	785 kg
Fuel weight	8.5 t
Rocket length	14.6 m
Maximum body diameter	1.65 m
	27 tf
	31 tf
	199 kgf s/kg
	232 kgf·s/kg
	206 pp.
Main engine weight	885 kg

R-2. 8Zh38

R-2 is a single-stage operational-tactical ballistic missile (long-range ballistic missile). Developed at NII-88 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev. Sergei Korolev began the project of a rocket with a doubled flight range in 1946. A government decree defining the stages of work on the project was issued on April 14, 1947. The preliminary design of the rocket was approved on April 25, 1947. Tests were carried out at the Kapustin Yar training ground from September 21, 1949 to July 1951. The complex was put into service on November 27, 1951.

The RD-101 (8D52) sustainer single-chamber liquid propellant engine was developed at OKB-456 under the leadership of Valentin Glushko. The fuel components are ethyl alcohol and liquid oxygen. The complex of ground-based equipment was developed at GSKB Spetsmash under the leadership of Vladimir Barmin. The launch device is a stationary ground launch pad. The launch method is gas-dynamic. The transport units of the missile system were developed by the Moscow KBTM under the leadership of Anatoly Gurevich. The installer was developed at the Central Design Bureau for Heavy Engineering under the leadership of Nikolai Leikin. The autonomous inertial control system was developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Nikolai Pilyugin and at NII-944 under the leadership of Viktor Kuznetsov. The radio correction system was developed under the leadership of chief designer Mikhail Borisenko. The rocket's controls are air and gas-jet rudders. The fuel tank is load-bearing, the oxidizer tank is suspended. The missile has a monoblock non-nuclear warhead detachable in flight.

Serial production of R-2 missiles and RD-101 engines was launched at the State Union Plant No. 586 in Dnepropetrovsk in June 1953.

***Performance characteristics of the missileR-2.* 8Zh38**
Maximum firing range	600 km
Maximum launch weight	20.4 t
Head weight	1.5 t
Weight of a conventional explosive charge	1,008 kg
Fuel weight	14.5 t
Rocket length	17.7 m
Maximum body diameter	1.65 m
Main engine thrust at ground level	37 tf
Main engine thrust in the void	41 tf
Specific thrust impulse of the main engine at the ground	210 kgf·s/kg
Specific thrust impulse of a propulsion engine in vacuum	237 kgf·s/kg
Main engine weight	1,178 kg

R-3. 8A67

The R-3 is a single-stage medium-range ballistic missile (long-range ballistic missile). Development was carried out at NII-88 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev from April 14, 1947. The preliminary design was approved on December 7, 1949 at a meeting of the Scientific and Technical Council NII-88. On October 4, 1950, a government decree was issued on the creation of the R-3 ballistic missile with a firing range of up to 3000 km. In December 1951, S.P. Korolev stopped working on the project in favor of the R-5 project.

The RD-110 single-chamber liquid propellant rocket engine was developed at OKB-456 under the leadership of Valentin Glushko. The fuel components are oxygen and kerosene. The complex of ground-based assets was developed at GSKB Spetsmash under the leadership of Vladimir Barmin. The launch device is a stationary ground launch pad. The launch method is gas-dynamic. The autonomous control system with radio correction was developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Mikhail Ryazansky and Nikolai Pilyugin, as well as at NII-20 under the leadership of Boris Konoplev. Command instruments (gyros) were developed at NII-944 under the leadership of Viktor Kuznetsov.

R-5. 8A62

The R-5 is a single-stage medium-range ballistic missile (long-range ballistic missile). Developed at NII-88 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev. Leading designer - Dmitry Kozlov. Development began in 1949. The government decree on the creation of the rocket was issued in 1952. Tests took place at the Kapustin Yar training ground from April 2, 1953 to February 1955. In 1954, on the basis of the R-5 rocket, the development of the R-5M rocket began.
The RD-103 (8D54) single-chamber sustainer engine was developed at OKB-456 under the leadership of chief designer Valentin Glushko. The fuel components are ethyl alcohol and liquid oxygen. The starting device - a stationary ground launcher - was developed at GSKB Spetsmash under the leadership of Vladimir Barmin. The launch method is gas-dynamic. The control system is inertial with radio correction of the flight path. The inertial control system was developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Mikhail Ryazansky and Nikolai Pilyugin, and at NII-944 under the leadership of Viktor Kuznetsov. The radio control system was developed at NII-20 under the leadership of Boris Konoplev. The controls are gas-jet and aerodynamic rudders. The missile has a monoblock non-nuclear warhead detachable in flight. Pilot production of missiles was mastered at the Experimental Plant NII-88.

*Performance characteristics of the missileR-5 8A62*
Maximum firing range	1,200 km
Maximum launch weight	26 - 28.5 t
Head weight	1.42 t
Unfueled rocket mass	4.2 t
Rocket length	20.75 m
Maximum body diameter	1.65 m
The speed of the warhead upon entering the dense layers of the atmosphere at an altitude of 90 km	about 3 km/s
Main engine thrust at ground level	44 tf
Main engine thrust in the void	50 tf
Specific thrust impulse of the main engine at the ground	220 kgf·s/kg
Specific thrust impulse of a propulsion engine in vacuum	243 kgf·s/kg
Main engine operating time	219 s
Main engine weight	870 kg

R-5M. 8K51

The R-5M is a single-stage medium-range ballistic missile (long-range ballistic missile). Developed at OKB-1 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev. Leading designer - Dmitry Kozlov. Development began on April 10, 1954. Tests took place at the Kapustin Yar training ground from January 20, 1955 to February 1956. The missile entered service on June 21, 1956.

The RD-103M single-chamber sustainer engine was developed at OKB-456 under the leadership of Valentin Glushko. The ground launch complex was developed at GSKB Spetsmash under the leadership of Vladimir Barmin. Transport units were developed at KBTM under the leadership of Vladimir Petrov. The rocket installer was developed at TsKB TM under the leadership of Nikolai Krivoshein. The autonomous inertial control system was developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Mikhail Ryazansky and Nikolai Pilyugin, and at NII-944 under the leadership of Viktor Kuznetsov. The radio control system was developed at NII-20 under the leadership of Boris Konoplev. Controls: air and gas jet rudders. The missile has a monoblock nuclear warhead that is detachable in flight. The atomic warhead was developed in Arzamas-16 under the leadership of Samvel Kocharyants. Means for detonating an atomic warhead were created at Moscow Branch No. 1 (now the All-Russian Research Institute of Automation named after N.L. Dukhov) KB-11 (Arzamas-16) under the leadership of Nikolai Dukhov and Viktor Zuevsky.

Serial production of rockets and engines began in 1956 at the State Union Plant No. 586 in Dnepropetrovsk.

***Performance characteristics of the missile* R-5M 8K51**
Maximum firing range	1,200 km
Maximum launch weight	29.1 t
Head weight	1.35 t
Nuclear warhead power	300 kt (there are data about warheads with a capacity 80 kt and 1 Mt)
Unfueled rocket mass	4.39 t
Mass of fuel, hydrogen peroxide and compressed air	24.5 t
Mass of liquid oxygen	13.99 t
Mass of ethyl alcohol	10.01 t
Rocket length	20.75 m
Maximum body diameter	1.65 m
Rocket speed at the moment the engine is turned off	3,016 m/s
Top of the trajectory	304 km
Flight time to target	637 s
Main engine thrust at ground level	43 tf
Main engine thrust in the void	50 tf
Specific thrust impulse of the main engine at the ground	216 kgf s/kg
Specific thrust impulse of a propulsion engine in vacuum	243 kgf·s/kg
Main engine weight	870 kg

R-7. 8K71

R-7 is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. Developed at OKB-1 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev. Leading designer - Dmitry Kozlov. Development began on May 20, 1954. Tests took place at the Baikonur test site from May 15, 1957 to June 1958. The missile system was put into service on January 20, 1960, but was not put on combat duty.
The first stage (four side blocks) is equipped with four four-chamber propulsion rocket engines RD-107 (8D74) and four two-chamber steering engines. The second stage is equipped with a four-chamber propulsion rocket engine RD-108 (8D75) and a four-chamber steering engine. The RD-107 and RD-108 propulsion engines were developed at OKB-456 under the leadership of Valentin Glushko. Steering motors were developed at OKB-1 under the leadership of Mikhail Melnikov. The fuel components are T-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen. The starting device - a stationary ground launcher - was developed at GSKB Spetsmash under the leadership of Vladimir Barmin. The launch method is gas-dynamic. The transport units of the complex were developed at KBTM under the leadership of Vladimir Petrov. Ground handling units were developed at the Central Design Bureau for Heavy Engineering under the leadership of Nikolai Krivoshein. The control system is inertial with radio correction of the flight path. The autonomous control system was developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Nikolai Pilyugin. The radio control system was developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Mikhail Ryazansky. Command devices were developed at NII-944 under the leadership of Viktor Kuznetsov. The rocket's controls are steering motors and air rudders. The electrical equipment complex was developed at NII-627 of the Ministry of Electrical Engineering Industry under the leadership of Andronik Iosifyan. The missile has a monoblock nuclear warhead that is detachable in flight. The atomic warhead was created under the leadership of chief designer Samvel Kocharyants.
Pilot production of missiles was carried out at the Experimental Plant OKB-1 in Podlipki. Serial production of missiles was launched in 1958 at the Kuibyshev Aviation Plant No. 1. Production of first and second stage main engines was launched at the Kuibyshev Engine Plant No. 24 named after M.V. Frunze.

*Performance characteristics of the R-7 8K71 missile*
Maximum firing range	9,500 km
Maximum launch weight	283 t
Dry weight of the rocket with warhead	27 t
Head weight	5.4 t
Nuclear warhead power	3 Mt (5 Mt)
Fuel weight	250 t
Rocket length	31 - 33 m
Rocket central block length	19.2 m
Conical head length	3.5 m
Maximum transverse size of the assembled package	10.3 m
Thrust of the first stage propulsion engine at the ground	82 tf
Thrust of the first stage propulsion engine in the void	100 tf
Specific thrust impulse of the first stage propulsion engine at the ground	252 kgf·s/kg
Specific thrust impulse of the first stage propulsion engine in vacuum	308 kgf·s/kg
Operating time of the main engines of the side blocks (first stage)	120 s
	1,155 kg
	75 tf
	94 tf
	243 kgf·s/kg
	309 kgf·s/kg
Operating time of the main engine of the central block (second stage)	up to 290 s
	1,250 kg

R-7A. 8K74

R-7A is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. Developed at OKB-1 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev. Leading designer - Dmitry Kozlov. Development began on July 2, 1958. Tests at the Baikonur test site took place from December 24, 1958 to July 1960. The missile system was put on combat duty on January 1, 1960. Entered service on September 12, 1960.
The first stage (four side blocks) is equipped with four RD-107 four-chamber liquid propellant propulsion engines and four two-chamber steering engines. The second stage is equipped with a four-chamber propulsion rocket engine RD-108 and a four-chamber steering engine. The RD-107 and RD-108 propulsion engines were developed at OKB-456 under the leadership of Valentin Glushko. Steering motors were developed at OKB-1 under the leadership of Mikhail Melnikov. The fuel components are T-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen. The starting device - a stationary ground launcher - was developed at GSKB Spetsmash under the leadership of Vladimir Barmin. The launch method is gas-dynamic. The transport units of the complex were developed at KBTM under the leadership of Vladimir Petrov. Ground handling units were developed at the Central Design Bureau for Heavy Engineering under the leadership of Nikolai Krivoshein. The control system is inertial with radio correction of the flight path. The autonomous control system was developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Nikolai Pilyugin. The radio control system was developed at NII-885 under the leadership of Mikhail Ryazansky. Command devices were developed at NII-944 under the leadership of Viktor Kuznetsov. The rocket's controls are steering motors and air rudders. The electrical equipment complex was developed at NII-627 of the Ministry of Electrical Engineering Industry under the leadership of Andronik Iosifyan. The missile has a monoblock nuclear warhead that is detachable in flight. The atomic warhead was created under the leadership of chief designer Samvel Kocharyants.
Serial production of missiles has been launched at Kuibyshev Aviation Plant No. 1. Production of first and second stage main engines has been launched at Kuibyshev Engine Plant No. 24 named after M.V. Frunze.

*Performance characteristics of the R-7A 8K74 missile*
Maximum firing range	9,500 km
Maximum launch weight	276 t
Head weight	3.7 t
Nuclear warhead power	3 Mt
Fuel weight	250 t
Rocket length	31.4 m
Maximum diameter of housing package	10.3 m
Thrust of the first stage propulsion engine at the ground	82 tf
Thrust of the first stage propulsion engine in the void	100 tf
Specific thrust impulse of the first stage propulsion engine at the ground	252 kgf·s/kg
Specific thrust impulse of the first stage propulsion engine in vacuum	308 kgf·s/kg
Weight of the first stage propulsion engine	1,155 kg
Thrust of the second stage propulsion engine at the ground	75 tf
Thrust of the second stage propulsion engine in the void	94 tf
Specific thrust impulse of the second stage propulsion engine at the ground	243 kgf·s/kg
Specific thrust impulse of the second stage propulsion engine in vacuum	309 kgf·s/kg
Mass of the second stage propulsion engine	1,250 kg

Prospects and trends

The realities are such that there is currently no alternative to nuclear weapons in solving global problems of ensuring the country's security - both currently and in the foreseeable future. That is why the leadership of Russia and the Ministry of Defense, within the framework of the agreements reached, is taking persistent steps to preserve and strengthen the nuclear missile potential of our state. These issues are in the focus of attention of the country's military-political leadership and are highlighted as priorities by the President of Russia - Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces V.V. Putin at a meeting of the leadership of the Armed Forces on October 2, 2001 and in the Address Federal Assembly Russian Federation. The decisions made allowed the Missile Forces to exclude early removal from combat duty of missile regiments with complexes that had not reached the end of their service life, including preserving combat railway missile systems until 2006.

Within the framework of existing solutions, the complete decommissioning of missile systems whose service life has expired is planned to be carried out only in the next decade. The strength characteristics of missile weapons and the emerging new technologies for assessing their objective condition, along with regular testing of the reliability of missiles through combat training launches, make it possible to implement programs to extend their life. As part of this work, in 2001, an examination was carried out and the storage of so-called “dry” missiles (“Stiletto”) was organized. As the examination showed, despite long terms storage, there are no signs of aging of these missiles. Estimated general designer, this will make it possible to extend the maintenance of part of the missile regiments on combat duty until 2020 and, possibly, beyond. This work was highly appreciated by the President of Russia V.V. Putin and gave him the opportunity to declare at a meeting of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense that “...Russia has a significant stock of ground-based strategic missiles.”

This year, work has begun to extend the service life of “heavy” missiles, which will also allow us to preserve the most powerful missiles for the coming years.

After 2015, the basis of the Strategic Missile Forces grouping will be the Topol-M missile systems, both silo-based and mobile, with various combat equipment. Every year we will put on combat duty the number of these missile systems established by the plans. So these days, in the Saratov region, another regiment equipped with the Topol-M missile system will take up combat duty.

As for the longer term, the existing scientific, technical and design reserves allow us to respond flexibly to emerging challenges and threats. But it should be borne in mind that the development of a fundamentally new missile system will take 10–15 years. We still have such a reserve of time.

Thus, in the medium term, the Missile Forces will have required amount missile formations and, accordingly, launchers, consistent in their capabilities with the economic resources of the country and modern military-strategic realities.

By December 31, 2012, according to the START Treaty, the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces should have had no more than 1,700 - 2,200 nuclear warheads, which should ensure adequate nuclear deterrence under various options for the possible development of the military-strategic situation. Taking into account the above, in the nuclear triad, due to the inherent qualities of the Strategic Missile Forces (operability, reliability, independence from weather conditions), the Missile Forces will continue to be assigned the role of the basis of the Strategic Nuclear Forces of Russia, capable of reliably ensuring the deterrence potential from unleashing not only a nuclear, but also a large-scale war with using conventional means of destruction.

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Structure, composition and armament of the Strategic Missile Forces

Missile Forces and Artillery (RF&A)

Rocket Forces and Artillery(RV and A) - a branch of the Ground Forces, which is the main means of fire and nuclear destruction of the enemy during combined arms operations (combat operations). They are designed to perform the following main tasks:

gaining and maintaining fire superiority over the enemy;
defeat of its nuclear attack means, manpower, weapons, military and special equipment;
disorganization of systems for command and control of troops and weapons, reconnaissance and electronic warfare;
destruction of long-term defensive structures and other infrastructure;
disruption of operational and military logistics;
weakening and isolating the enemy's second echelons and reserves;
destruction of tanks and other tanks that broke through into the depths of the defense armored vehicles enemy;
covering open flanks and joints;
participation in the destruction of enemy air and sea landings;
remote mining of terrain and objects;
lighting support for night operations of troops;
smoke, blinding enemy targets;
distribution of propaganda materials and others.

Organizationally, RV and A consist of missile, rocket, artillery brigades, including mixed, high-power artillery divisions, rocket artillery regiments, individual reconnaissance divisions, as well as artillery of combined arms brigades and military bases.

Further development and enhancement of the combat capabilities of the Russian Army and Airborne Forces is carried out by creating reconnaissance and fire contours, including on a temporary basis, ensuring the destruction of targets in real time, equipping formations and units of the Russian Army and Army precision weapons, increasing the firing range and power of the ammunition used, as well as automating the processes of preparing and firing.

This branch of the military also appeared in the early 60s of the last century. It consists of: formations of operational-tactical missiles, formations of tactical missiles, large-caliber rocket artillery, as well as cannon, rocket and howitzer artillery. The missile forces also include mortar units and artillery reconnaissance, supply and control units.

The military doctrine states that this branch of the military is the main means of inflicting fire damage on the enemy in battle. This branch of the military can also use weapons of mass destruction.

Today, the Missile Forces are armed with a large number of artillery and missile weapons, mainly developed as in the Soviet years.

The most well known to the general public are jet systems multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) "Grad", "Smerch", "Hurricane". These types of weapons were used Soviet troops Even during the Afghan war, they went through both Chechen campaigns and showed themselves to be a very reliable and effective type of weapon.

Among the new developments, we can recall the Tornado MLRS and the Iskander operational missile system.

The main type of weapons of the Strategic Missile Forces are intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads, which can hit a target anywhere on the planet. The Strategic Missile Forces is a separate branch of the military, which is subordinate to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. The Russian Missile Forces were formed on December 17, 1959. This date is the official Day of the Russian Missile Forces. The Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces is located in Balashikha (Moscow region).

“Land” missilemen have their own professional holiday - November 19 is the Day of the Russian Missile Forces and Artillery.

History of creation

Man began to launch rockets into the sky a very long time ago, almost immediately after the invention of gunpowder. There is historical evidence of the use of rockets for salutes and fireworks in Ancient China (circa 3rd century BC). They tried to use missiles in military affairs, but due to their imperfections, no particular success was achieved. Many prominent minds of the East and West were engaged in rockets, but they were more likely an interesting curiosity than an object suitable for practical use.

In the 19th century, Congreve missiles were adopted by the British army and were used for several decades. However, the accuracy of these missiles left much to be desired, so they were eventually replaced by cannon artillery.

Interest in the development of rocket technology arose again only after the end of the First World War. Design teams in many countries were engaged in practical work in area jet propulsion. And the results were not long in coming. Before the start of the next world war, the USSR created rocket launcher salvo fire BM-13 - the famous “Katyusha”, which later became one of the symbols of Victory.

In Germany, the development of new rocket engines was carried out by the brilliant designer Wernher von Braun, the creator of the first V-2 ballistic missile and the “father” of the American Apollo project.

During the war, several more examples of effective missile weapons appeared: a rocket-propelled grenade launcher (the German Faustpatron and the American Bazooka), the first anti-tank guided missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, cruise missile"V-1".

After the invention of nuclear weapons, the importance of rocketry increased manifold. Rockets have become the main carrier of nuclear warheads. USA for application nuclear strikes across Soviet territory could use strategic aviation, which was stationed at numerous bases in Europe, Turkey and Japan. The Soviet Union did not have bases, so in the event of Armageddon it could only rely on strategic missiles.

The first Soviet ballistic missiles were created on the basis of captured German technologies; they had a relatively short flight range and could only perform operational tasks. Special purpose engineering brigades were armed with similar missiles.

The first Soviet ICBM (flight range 8 thousand km) was the royal R-7. It first started in 1957. With the help of the R-7, the first artificial Earth satellite was launched into orbit. In December of the same year, units with long-range ballistic missiles were separated into a separate branch of the military, and brigades armed with tactical and operational-tactical missiles became part of the Ground Forces.

In the 60s, work on the creation of new types of artillery and missile systems for the Ground Forces were somewhat suspended, since it was believed that they would be of little use in a global nuclear war. In 1963, operation of the new BM-21 Grad MLRS began, which is still in service with the Russian Armed Forces today.

In the 60-70s, the USSR began to deploy second-generation ICBMs, which were launched from highly protected launch silos. By the beginning of the 70s, at the cost of incredible efforts, it was achieved nuclear parity with the Americans. During the same period, the first mobile phones were created launchers ICBM.

At the end of the 60s, the USSR began developing several self-propelled artillery systems, which later made up the so-called flower series: the Akatsiya self-propelled gun, the Gvozdika self-propelled gun and the Peony self-propelled gun. They are in service Russian army and in our days.

In the early 70s, an agreement was signed between the USSR and the USA to limit the number of nuclear weapons. After the signing of this document, the Soviet Union significantly surpassed the United States in the number of missiles and warheads, but the Americans had more advanced technologies, their missiles were more powerful and more accurate.

In the 70-80s, the Strategic Missile Forces received third-generation ICBMs with multiple warheads, and the accuracy of the missiles increased significantly. In 1975, the famous “Satan” missile, the R-36M, was adopted for service, which for a long time was the main impact force Soviet Strategic Missile Forces, and then the Russian Missile Forces. In the same year, the Tochka tactical missile system was adopted by the Ground Forces.

At the end of the 80s, mobile and stationary systems of the fourth generation (Topol, RS-22, RS-20V) entered service with the missile forces, and a new control system was introduced. In 1987, the Smerch MLRS was adopted by the Ground Forces, which long years was considered the most powerful in the world (300 mm).

After the collapse of the USSR, all ICBM missiles from the former Soviet republics were withdrawn to Russian territory, and the silos were destroyed. In 1996, the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation began to receive stationary-based fifth-generation ICBMs (Topol-M). In 2009-2010, regiments armed with the new Topol-M mobile complex were introduced into the Strategic Missile Forces.

Today, the replacement of obsolete ICBMs continues for more than modern complexes"Topol-M" and "Yars", the development of the heavy liquid-propellant rocket "Sarmat" continues.

In 2010, the United States and Russia signed another treaty regarding the number of nuclear warheads and their delivery vehicles - SALT-3. According to this document, each country can have no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads and 770 carriers for them. Carriers mean not only ICBMs, but also missile-carrying submarines and strategic aircraft.

Apparently, this treaty does not prohibit the production of missiles with multiple warheads, but at the same time it does not limit the creation of new elements of the missile defense system, which are currently actively underway in the United States.

Structure, composition and armament of the Strategic Missile Forces

Today, the Strategic Missile Forces includes three armies: the 31st (Orenburg), the 27th Guards (Vladimir) and the 33rd Guards (Omsk), consisting of twelve missile divisions, as well as the Central Command Post and the Main Headquarters of the Missile Forces.

In addition to military units, the Strategic Missile Forces include several training grounds (Kapustin Yar, Sary-Shagan, Kamchatka), two educational institutions (an academy in Balashikha and an institute in Serpukhov), production capacity and bases for storing and repairing equipment.

Currently (information for 2015) the Strategic Missile Forces of the RF Armed Forces are armed with 305 missile systems of five different types:

UR-100NUTTKH – 60 (320 warheads);
R-36M2 (and its modifications) – 46 (460 warheads);
“Topol” – 72 (72 warheads);
“Topol-M” (including silo and mobile versions) – 78 (78 warheads);
"Yars" - 49 (196 warheads).

In total, the above complexes can carry 1166 nuclear warheads.

The central command post (CCP) of the Strategic Missile Forces is located in the village of Vlasikha (Moscow region), it is located in a bunker at a depth of 30 meters. Continuous combat duty is carried out by four rotating shifts. The communications equipment of the Central Command Center allows you to maintain continuous communication with all other posts of the missile forces and military units, receive information from them, decipher it and respond adequately to it.

Russian strategic nuclear forces use the Kazbek automated combat control system, its portable terminal is the so-called black suitcase, which is constantly kept by the President of the Russian Federation; the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff have similar “suitcases”. Currently, work is underway to modernize the automated control system; the new fifth-generation system will make it possible to quickly retarget ICBMs, as well as communicate orders directly to each launcher.

The Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation are equipped with a unique “Perimeter” system, which in the West was nicknamed “Dead Hand”. It makes it possible to strike back at the aggressor, even if all command and control links of the Strategic Missile Forces are destroyed.

Currently, the Strategic Missile Forces are being rearmed with new Yars missiles with multiple warheads. Tests of a more advanced modification of the Yars, the R-26 Rubezh, have been completed. Work is underway to create a new heavy missile “Sarmat”, which should replace the outdated Soviet “Voevoda”.

The development of the new Barguzin railway missile system continues, but its testing dates are constantly being postponed.

Missile Forces and Artillery (RF&A)

The RFA is one of the military branches that is part of the Ground Forces. In addition to the ground forces, the RMiA is part of other structures: the coastal troops of the Russian Navy, the Airborne Forces, the border and internal troops of the Russian Federation.

The RFA consists of artillery, missile and rocket brigades, rocket artillery regiments, high-power divisions, as well as units that are part of the brigades of the Ground Forces.

The MFA has a wide range of weapons at its disposal, which allows it to effectively carry out the tasks facing this branch of the military. Although most of these missile and artillery systems were developed and manufactured in the Soviet Union, the troops also receive modern views weapons created in recent years.

Currently, the Russian army is armed with 48 Tochka-U tactical missile systems, as well as 108 Iskander tactical missile systems. Both missiles can carry a nuclear warhead.

Barrel self-propelled artillery is represented mainly by samples created Soviet period: self-propelled guns "Gvozdika" (150 units), self-propelled guns "Akatsia" (about 800 units), self-propelled guns "Gyacinth-S" (about 100 units), self-propelled guns "Pion" (more than 300 units, most of them in storage). Also worth mentioning is the 152-mm Msta self-propelled gun (450 units), which was modernized after the collapse of the USSR. Russian-developed self-propelled artillery systems include the Khosta self-propelled gun (50 units), which is a modernization of the Gvozdika installation, as well as the Nona-SVK self-propelled mortar (30 vehicles).

The following types of towed vehicles are in service with the Russian Military Army: barrel artillery: gun-howitzers-mortar "Nona-K" (100 units), howitzer D-30A (more than 4.5 thousand units, most of them in storage), howitzer "Msta-B" (150 units). To combat enemy armored vehicles, the Russian Military Army has more than 500 anti-tank guns MT-12 "Rapier".

Multiple launch rocket systems are represented by BM-21 "Grad" (550 units), BM-27 "Hurricane" (about 200 units) and MLRS BM-30 "Smerch" (100 units). In recent years, the BM-21 and BM-30 have been modernized, and the Tornado-G and Tornado-S MLRS were created on their basis. The improved Grad has already begun to enter service with the troops (about 20 vehicles), while the Tornado-S is still being tested. Work is also underway to modernize the Uragan MLRS.

The Russian Military Army is armed with a large number of mortars of various types and calibers: the automatic mortar "Vasilek", the 82-mm mortar "Tray" (800 units), the mortar complex "Sani" (700 units), the self-propelled mortar "Tulip" (430 units) .).

Further development of missile defense and warfare will proceed through the creation of integral circuits, which will include reconnaissance means that will make it possible to find and hit targets in real time (“network-centric warfare”). Currently, much attention is paid to the development of new types of high-precision ammunition, increasing the firing range, and increasing its automation.

In 2015, the new Russian self-propelled gun “Coalition-SV” was presented to the public, which will enter service with combat units by the end of 2016. This self-propelled gun has a greater firing range and accuracy, rate of fire and level of automation (compared to the Msta self-propelled guns).

Strategic Missile Forces- one of the separate ones and represent the main ground component of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation.

They are subordinate to the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces and are obliged to always maintain combat readiness.
The missile forces are equipped with ground-based silo-based and mobile-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. They are often supplemented with nuclear warheads.

Strategic Missile Forces mission

At the beginning of its appearance the role nuclear weapons was assigned exclusively as an offensive means and to gain an advantage in military terms. In today's reality, this is more of a political means to move towards a goal, restraining aggressive opponents.

However, the deterrent factor is not only the global weapons themselves, but the presence of actual combat characteristics and wide possibilities of use in any situation.

With universal reach, colossal destructive power and without incurring unaffordable maintenance costs, strategic nuclear forces provide effective deterrence at lower costs. In relation to states with superior economic, quantitative resources and the level of equipment of troops with the latest highly effective conventional weapons.

The Strategic Missile Forces, with their daily combat readiness, provide our country with the opportunity to carry out a long and economically difficult reformation period of the Armed Forces and the entire military organization of the Russian Federation.

The purpose of the Strategic Missile Forces is to provide nuclear deterrence of alleged attacks and retaliatory attack actions with their own or general forces of strategic purpose, with the execution of a large-scale, group and single nuclear missile strike on enemy targets of strategic purpose, which play a key role in the combat capability of the opposing side.

These objects can be located together or separately, at a significant distance.
In addition, the task is to implement nuclear deterrence. In modern times, a powerful nuclear shield and the mobile systems that complement it seem to be a significant argument in nuclear deterrence and maintaining international stability.

History of the Strategic Missile Forces

The first developments of strategic missile weapons began in the post-war Soviet Union. Nuclear weapons and initial samples of guided ballistic missiles were produced, missile formations were deployed to quickly solve problems in conflict situations and strategically important tasks of close combat use.

The MS-1 communications vehicle provides the Topol missile division with all types of communications during combat duty.

In the 50s, the first missiles began to be launched serially, and the need arose for the missile forces to organize centralized leadership. As a result, the formation of strategic missile forces occurred.

Strategic Missile Forces Day

The founding day of the Strategic Missile Forces should be considered December 17, 1959
The process of formation of the Strategic Missile Forces, deployment, and establishment of combat missile duty developed in relation to formations and units with intercontinental ballistic and medium-range missiles, designed to solve strategic problems with geographical dispersion throughout the world.

Being a type of troops, as a result of transformation by decree of the President of Russia, on March 24, 2001, they become a branch of the Armed Forces.

Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces

In 2010, Colonel General Sergei Karakaev was appointed to the post of Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, and he continues to perform his duties to this day.

Composition of strategic missile forces

The structure of the strategic missile forces has not changed since Soviet army. As before, it has armies (missile) which include missile divisions and missile regiments. For example, the 27th Guards Rocket Vitebsk Red Banner Army from headquarters in Vladimir, which includes five missile divisions

The components are headed by the main missile command of the troops. The location of the main testing ground Kapustin Yar is the Astrakhan region.

The region where the tests are carried out is based in Kazakhstan - the Sary-Shagan test site; a separate scientific testing station is based on the Kamchatka Peninsula - the Kura test site.

The Strategic Missile Forces also have:

4th Central Research Institute,
Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces named after Peter the Great,
Serpukhov Military Institute of Missile Forces,
repair plants and bases.

The Strategic Missile Forces have 7 airfields and 8 heliports allocated for operation. Composition of the Strategic Missile Forces replenished with engineering units, they are equipped with engineering maintenance and camouflage vehicles, remote mine clearance machines, and KDM track-laying vehicles.

Armament of strategic missile forces

R-36M2 missiles (RS-20V, SS-18) are two-stage liquid-fueled, capable of carrying 10 warheads.
Their deployment took place in the late 80s and early 90s. Still retained on combat duty.

UR-100NUTTKH (SS-19) missiles are two-stage liquid-propelled, capable of carrying 6 warheads. Their deployment took place in the late 70s and early 80s. For now they remain on combat duty.

Topol (SS-25) ground-based missile systems are three-stage solid fuel, designed to carry one warhead. The deployment of missiles took place from the mid-80s to the early 90s.
IN this moment they are removed from service upon completion of the operational period.

The Topol-M (SS-27) missile system with the RS-24 Yars modification is a three-stage solid-fuel missile, originally had a monoblock version. The complex was created as a silo-based version and as a ground mobile version.
The deployment of the RS-24 mobile version complexes began in 2010.

Russian strategic missile system with solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile PC-24 "Yars"

Development of the Strategic Missile Forces

It should be noted that now our country does not have the ability to cover the entire territory of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This is not surprising, since more than half of intercontinental ballistic missiles have completed their operational period.

There is a need for improvements and new developments, but the reforms have not yet been completed. Certain states with their alliances enjoy a tangible advantage in general purpose forces. The current economic situation in our country gives the strategic nuclear forces the role of key military forces capable of compensating for potential military threats against us.

But it is not all that bad. New facilities are being put into operation to prevent missile attacks. Military satellites have been put into orbit, serving as the most important link in early warning systems.

Missile systems and nuclear missiles, according to the latest information, are not decreasing in number. They are purposefully replaced by the latest developments, namely, mobile complexes"Topol-M", "Yars".

Strategic missile system RT-2PM2 "Topol-M"

All technical innovations adopted by the Strategic Missile Forces require qualified maintenance. Training institutions and military registration and enlistment offices are familiar with this need. Lower-ranking military personnel and junior command personnel are required to have appropriate education, technical disciplines are more preferable in this case.

We wrote earlier about the 47th interspecific regional training center of the Strategic Missile Forces, intended for training junior specialists.

The subsequent development of the Strategic Missile Forces in the form of the main points involves: maintaining combat readiness for the relevant military groupings, increasing the period of use of missile systems for the maximum period, accelerating the deployment of the latest Topol-M missile system with stationary and mobile deployment, improving the combat command and control systems of the army and weapons, gaining scientific and technical advantage of key equipment of the Strategic Missile Forces.

Bottom line

Active steps are now underway for the latest missile rearmament, and it is predicted that by the 20th year new missile systems will account for just under 100 percent. Military units will also be provided with new equipment intended for combat duty. Combat management systems are being improved strategic missile forces

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