| Country: |
Russian Federation |
| Alternate Name: |
Satan, RS-20B |
| Class: |
ICBM |
| Basing: |
Silo based |
| Length: |
34.30 m |
| Diameter: |
3.00 m |
| Launch Weight: |
217000 kg |
| Payload: |
10 MIRV warheads |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 500 to 550 kT |
| Propulsion: |
2-stage liquid |
| Range: |
15000 km |
| Status: |
Terminated |
| In Service: |
1980-1988 |
Details
Russian Designation: RS-20B
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 four versions are known to exist, though it is believed that the fifth and sixth version may have existed as well. The SS-18 was extremely similar in design to its predecessor, the SS-9.
The SS-18 Mod 3 is an extremely powerful strategic weapon. It carries Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) warheads, each with a nuclear yield greater than that of many contemporary missiles. It has range such that all major targets within the continental United States could be attacked. The SS-18 Mod 3 sacrifices the significantly more powerful MIRV warheads of the Mod 1 in exchange for the ability to strike an extra two targets. The reported yield and accuracy would provide a fairly low probability of destroying hardened sites. As the SS-18 Mod 3 was replacing missiles primarily designed for counterforce strikes, it would be illogical to upgrade to a weaker system, so it is likely that either the accuracy or the payload of the system was considerably higher than reported. Without the larger payload, the system would still be effective for the destruction of a large number of soft targets, such as military bases, cities, airports, etc. With a larger warhead, the SS-18 Mod 3 would have the ability to devastate any US missiles on the ground during a strike. As it could easily use its MIRV warheads to destroy a number of population centers, the SS-18 Mod 3 is a viable counter-value asset as well.
The SS-18 Mod 3 and Mod 4 have the exact same missile design; their only difference was the warhead. The SS-18 Mod 3 can deploy its 10 MIRV warheads up to a range of 15,000 km (9,321 miles). Each MIRV warhead has a yield of 500-550 kT, though this could easily be higher. The missile uses an inertial navigation system with digital computer guidance and control which provides a reported, and likely underreported, accuracy of 920 m CEP. This value is reasonable for the time period, but low for a counterforce missile. The missile is a massive 217,000 kg, with a length of 34.3 m and a 3.0 m diameter. It uses 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. There were approximately 122 Mod 3 missiles still in service. It is believed that only 85 missiles remained in 2006.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 130-132.
New RS-24 Missiles to Replace Older Russian Systems
June 12, 2007 :: Interfax :: News
At a press conference, Commander Colonel-General Nikolai Solovtsov confirmed that Russia's new RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) will replace older missiles as they are retired over the coming years, Interfax-AVN reported on June 12. Specifically, the RS-24s will replace the RS-18s (SS-19, Stiletto) and the RS-20s (SS-18, Satan), which carry six and ten warheads respectively. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia
» Missile details: SS-18 Mod 3, SS-18 Mod 4, SS-19 Mod 2
Russia Tests SS-18
December 22, 2004 :: Itar-Tass :: News
Russia today tested its SS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, which it test fired from the Dombarovsky missile base in the Odenberg region of Russia, traveling some 6,000km to the Kura testing ground on the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula. This was the first test of a missile being launched from within Russia proper since 1991, reports Interfax—most test launches of the SS-18 take place from Kazakhstan.
The missile in question was described as the RS-20V (R-36M2) Voyevoda, which has been in service for some 16 years, and which will remain in service for another ten or 15 years. It is known as the SS-18 or as “Satan” in the West. Of the two versions or “modifications” of SS-18s currently deployed, this was probably the SS-18 Mod 4. Russia reportedly has about 40-50 of these missiles currently in service.
Russia is expected to test one more missile in 2004, the Topol-M, this Friday, December 24. (More »»»)
» RIA Novosti on SS-18, upcoming Topol-M, tests
» Podvig on SS-18 launch
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-18 Mod 3, SS-18 Mod 4
