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May 17, 2008
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Kapustin Yar Missile Test Complex
| Country: | Russia |
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The Kapustin Yar Missile Test Complex, also known as the 4th State Central Range, was a major missile range used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Located along the banks of the Volga River, its major test launches took place between 1947 and 1987.
When the Soviet missile development program commenced in 1946, it was decided that Kapustin Yar would be the location for a new Central Test Range for all jet-propelled weapons. The site was chosen because of its abundant and empty lands, its relative proximity to the industrial infrastructure of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), and its rail accessibility. The site was designated as the 4th State Central Range, and otherwise known as the Kapustin Yar Missile Test Complex.
In October 1947, the first rocket was launched from Kapustin Yar, a German V-2 (A-4). Two months later, a total of 11 V-2s had been tested. Over the following years, the Soviets test-launched the SS-1A Scunner (R-1), the SS-2 Sibling (R-2), the SS-3 Shyster (R-5), the SS-4 Sandel (R-12), the SS-5 Skean (R-14), and the SS-1B ‘Scud A’ (R-11), all of which were liquid-fuelled. In April 1962, the first solid-propellant ballistic missile, the SS-X-14 Scapegoat/Scamp (RT-1), was launched from Kapustin Yar, thus ushering in a new stage in the arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States.(1)
The last major launch conducted at Kapustin Yar was in 1987. The following June, the Soviet Union began its compliance with the INF Treaty and eliminated the first SS-20 Saber (RSD-10) missile at the complex. The last SS-20 elimination occurred in May 1991. Since then, the site has hosted infrequent sounding rocket and small orbital payload launches, but no major missile launches.(2)
Footnotes
- RussianSpaceWeb.com, “4th State Central Test Range (GTsP) at Kapustin Yar,” available at www.russianspaceweb.com/kapyar.html, accessed on 29 August 2005.
- GlobalSecurity.org, “Kapustin Yar,” available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/russia/kapustin_yar.htm, accessed on 29 August 2005.
Missile Tests at Kapustin Yar Profiled
The number of missile tests at Russia’s Kapustin Yar Missile Test Complex has increased in recent years, according to a recent profile by Interfax-AVN. The report quotes Colonel Aleksandr Vovk, head of the Strategic Missile Troops press service, who stated that “the year 2004 saw 173 test programmes, while in 2005 the number was 205, [and] as for 2006, we have 221 tests in plans.” According to Vovk, 22 tests are currently underway. In recent years, Kapustin Yar has been the site of the official trials of the Iskander-M missile system, as well as tests of the S-400 (SA-20 Triumf) surface-to-air missile system. The facilities include a research and development center for the Strategic Missile Troops, a weapons development center for the Land Forces, an interagency air-defense research and development center, and a missile defense test center. Kapustin Yar will mark its 60th anniversary on Saturday.
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Russia Tests New Maneuvering Warhead on Topol-M; Trajectory Chosen to Avoid Alaskan Radar
On November 1 Russia conducted a major test of its new maneuverable warhead system and of its Topol-M (RS-12M1) ballistic missile system. The missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar facility in Russia, and traveled a relatively short distance to the Balkhash testing range in Kazakhstan.
An excerpt from Kommersant notes that the launch trajectory was somewhat unique:
A RS-12M1 Topol-M intercontinental missile with the new warhead was tested in Kazakhstan yesterday. The launch from a mobile launcher was the sixth test of the system intended to overcome American antiballistic defenses. This was the first launch to take place not at the Kura testing ground at Plesetsk [sic] in Kamchatka, but at the Kapustin Yar ground, part of the Balkhash complex in Priozersk, Kazakhstan. The change was made began the radar system at Kura is in such poor condition that it would not be able to [monitor] maneuvers the warheads carry out after separating from the intercontinental missiles, while American facilities in Alaska would be able to. In Kazakhstan, the Russians were able to control everything themselves.
Strange Reporting
The reports on this test by major media outlets have, however, been remarkably contradictory. Some sources reported that the test was of the SS-25 Topol rather than the SS-27 Topol-M. Most said the missile was launched from Kapustin Yar; but Interfax quoted Strategic Missile Forces spokesman Colonel Alexander Vovk as saying that the missile was launched from the Plesetsk facility in northern Russia. Others still had initially reported it was launched from Kamchatka. (The Kommersant report quoted above oddly says that Plesetsk is on the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula, rather than in northern Russia.)
» Interfax on Topol-M test, warhead capabilities
» More stories on: Maneuverable Warheads, Russia, Testing - Foreign
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