| Country: |
Russian Federation |
| Alternate Name: |
Sego, RS-10 |
| Class: |
ICBM |
| Basing: |
Silo based |
| Length: |
18.95 m |
| Diameter: |
2.00 m |
| Launch Weight: |
51240 kg |
| Payload: |
3 MRV warheads |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 350 kT |
| Propulsion: |
2-stage liquid |
| Range: |
10300-12000 km |
| Status: |
Obsolete |
| In Service: |
1974-1994 |
Details
Russian Designation: RS-10
The SS-11 was an intercontinental-range, surface-based, liquid propellant ballistic missile. It was designed as a light ICBM which eventually became the core of the Russian nuclear arsenal. Designed to be smaller, the missile compensated for a significantly lower yield by allowing the missiles to be launched from canisters, greatly increasing the number of missiles that could be launched from a single silo. It was also considerably less expensive than other missiles, both in the cost of the missile and the cost of the launch silo, allowing for a far greater number of missiles to be deployed. It used an inertial guidance system.
The SS-11 was built to ensure that no attack against the Russian ICBM force could be completely successful and would guarantee a sufficiently large counterattack. This also gave them the ability to overwhelm any missile defenses deployed by the United States. However, the relatively low yield and accuracy of its nuclear warhead prevented it from being used against US missile silos and could only destroy undefended targets such as cities. Advances in launch technology allowed the missiles to be launched in only a few minutes, increasing the ability for a rapid pre-emptive or counter strike.
There were three major versions of the SS-11, though Russian sources report the Mod 1 could have been used as a shorter-range equipped with a larger yield nuclear warhead. The Mod 2 and 3 were basically upgraded versions of the Mod 1 and quickly replaced it. The Mod 3 carried three Multiple Reentry Vehicles (MRVs) which would saturate the target area with warheads, increasing the blast radius and overwhelming any local missile defenses.(1)
The SS-11 Mod 3 delivered a payload of three 350 kT nuclear warheads at a maximum range of between 10,300 km to 12,000 km (6,400 to 7,456 miles). It had a launch weight of 51,240 kg. It used the same inertial guidance system as the Mod 2, giving it an accuracy limitation of 1,000 m CEP. The SS-11 used a two stage liquid propellant engine. It increased the length from the Mod 1 and 2 missiles to 18.95 m while maintaining the width of 2 m. It used a two-stage liquid propellant engine.
The SS-11 Mod 3 entered service in the Soviet Union in 1974. The number of SS-11s was cut back by 1981 to make room for SS-17 and SS-19 missiles, and reduced further to allow for more SS-25 deployments under the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT). By 1991, all SS-11 Mod 3 missiles had been dismantled and the SS-11 series was completely retired by 1994.(2)
Footnotes
- Pavel Podvig, ed., Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces (Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2001).
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 570-571.
