| Country: |
Russian Federation |
| Alternate Name: |
Satan, RS-20A |
| Class: |
ICBM |
| Basing: |
Silo based |
| Length: |
33.60 m |
| Diameter: |
3.00 m |
| Launch Weight: |
210000 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 24 MT |
| Propulsion: |
2-stage liquid |
| Range: |
11000 km |
| Status: |
Terminated |
| In Service: |
1978-1982 |
Details
Russian Designation: RS-20A
The SS-18 is an intercontinental-range, silo-based, liquid propellant ballistic missile deployed by the Soviet Union. It is the largest of the fourth generation Soviet intercontinental-range missile and the only ‘heavy’ missile allowed under the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II). A total of six versions are known to exist. The SS-18 was extremely similar in design to its predecessor, the SS-9.
The SS-18 Mod 2 was an extremely powerful strategic weapon. This system was perfect for the destruction of critical hardened US sites such as the NORAD Cheyenne mountain complex. The size of the warhead was sufficient to accomplish the work of numerous smaller missiles, enabling it to be used to guarantee the destruction of a key target. For the purposes of destroying missile silos, however, the Mod 2 would be a tremendous amount of overkill. Even though it is fully capable of destroying a group of missiles, the destruction of such targets would be more effectively accomplished by the deployment of MIRV warheads. It is likely that the missile would have been used to completely destroy very large population centers, such as LA or Washington DC.
The SS-18 Mod 1 and Mod 2 had the exact same missile design; their only difference was the warhead. The SS-18 Mod 2 benefits from the removal of MIRV warheads with an increased range of 11,000 km (6835 miles). The missile used an inertial navigation system with digital computer guidance and control. The accuracy of the system is not specifically known, but given the capabilities of warhead systems at the time it was likely around 1000 m CEP. The missile was a massive 210,000 kg, with a length of 33.6 m and a 3.0 m diameter. The missile used a two-stage liquid propellant engine.
The SS-18 entered development in 1969 as a replacement for the SS-9 missile. It was essentially a redesigned, modernized SS-9. The flight tests started in 1973 and the Mod 1 version of the missile was first deployed operationally in 1975 within converted SS-9 missile silos and launch complexes. The SS-18 Mod 2 entered service in 1978, with the Mod 3 and Mod 4 entering service in 1980 and 1988 respectively. By 1991, there were 308 SS-18 missiles in silos grouped among six major launch sites.
The first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) required the number of SS-18 missiles to be reduced to 154 by 2003. As a result, the early versions of the SS-18 were removed from service to maintain the more advanced models; all Mod 1 missiles were removed by 1994 while the Mod 2 missiles were removed by 2001. The requirement of the START I has been fulfilled, as only 145 SS-18 missiles remained in service by the end of 2002. By July 2003 there were only 138 missiles in service.
The Mod 5 and 6 missiles were first launched in 1986. These models have improved accuracy, a similar first and second stage motor, similar accuracy and a similar payload. Due to an extended life program they will be in service until 2020.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 130-132.
