| Country: |
Russian Federation |
| Alternate Name: |
Stiletto, RS-18, UR-100NU |
| Class: |
ICBM |
| Basing: |
Silo Based |
| Length: |
24.30 m |
| Diameter: |
2.50 m |
| Launch Weight: |
105600 kg |
| Payload: |
6 MIRV warheads |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 500 to 750 kT each |
| Propulsion: |
3-stage liquid |
| Range: |
10000 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
1980 |
Details
Russian Designation: RS-18, UR-100NU
The SS-19 is an intercontinental-range, silo-based, liquid propellant ballistic missile system deployed by the Soviet Union. It was designed at the same time as the SS-17, with which it shares many features. Both missiles are similar to the US Minuteman design, and the simultaneous development of the two missiles is considered evidence of a Soviet to ensure at least one of the two ‘light’ ICBMs entered service. The SS-19 and SS-17 were the first Soviet missiles to be equipped with true Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) warheads, with separate guidance and targeting systems on each warhead. The old MRV systems were not independent and simply saturated a target area with warheads.
The SS-19 Mod 2 is a strategic asset ideal for use against population centers, though it is possible to use its MIRV warheads against hardened targets. Despite the improved accuracy and payload over the Mod 1, it is far from a safe bet to deploy a single warhead against a missile silo. To ensure a successful strike, multiple warheads would be required. However, the accuracy and payload is easily sufficient to inflict tremendous casualties on population centers, making the SS-19 Mod 1 an effective counter-value weapon. With MIRV warheads, this relatively lower costing ‘light’ missile could be used to saturate the United States with warheads.
The SS-19 Mod 2 can deliver its 6 MIRV warheads up to a range of 10,000 km (6,214 miles). Each warhead has a nuclear yield in the area of 500 to 750 kT. A digital guidance and control system uses an inertial guidance system, resulting in a reported accuracy of the missile was 900 m CEP. The missile has a length of 24.0 m, a width of 2.5 m and a launch weight of 105,600 kg. It uses a two-stage liquid propellant engine.
The SS-19 entered development in 1968 with the first flight test of the Mod 1 occurring in April 1973. The missile entered service in 1975 as the last of the fourth generation Soviet land-based missiles, and was initially deployed in heavily modified SS-11 silos. The SS-19 Mod 2 was first flight tested in 1977 and entered service in 1980. A peak deployment of 360 SS-19 missiles occurred in 1982, though production continued as late as 1990. The SS-19 Mod 1 series has been retired and was completely replaced by the Mod 2 by 1983. It is estimated that 140 SS-19 Mod 2 missiles were operational in July 2002, though a number will be withdrawn to accommodate the SS-27 Topol-M system. By 2010 it is expected that the number will be reduced to 50, within ten years that number should be reduced to zero.
A space launch version of the SS-19 was also built. The modified SS-19 was made into a SLV by adding a third liquid stage and was launched in 2000. It is capable of sending payloads weighing up to 1,850 kg into low Earth orbit. A second SLV was planned to launch multiple small satellites into orbit in 2002 or 2003.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 133-134.
Russia Tests SS-19 Missile
October 29, 2007 :: Spacewar.com :: News
Russia test fired an RS-18 (SS-19) intercontinental ballistic missile October 29 from the Baikonur cosmodrome in neighboring Kazakhstan, Russian news agencies reported. The missile's warhead successfully traveled eastward to the missile testing ground on the Kamchatka peninsula. The test was intended to check the continued effectiveness of the missile's flight systems. The RS-18s are specially equipped to overcome missile defense systems. The Itar-Tass news agency notes that Russia has some 160 of the SS-19 missile, and that they are equipped with countermeasures to resist American missile defense systems. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-19 Mod 1, SS-19 Mod 2
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
Overall Status and Numbers of Russian Forces
October 11, 2005 :: News
Russianforces.org reports on the recent START exchange data supplied by Russia on its ballistic missiles still in service:
In October 2005 the Russian strategic forces included 815 strategic delivery platforms, which can carry up to 3479 nuclear warheads.
[The] Strategic Rocket Forces have 545 operational missile systems that include missiles that can carry 1955 warheads. These include 85 R-36MUTTH and R-36M2 (SS-18) missiles, 129 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) missiles, 291 road-mobile Topol (SS-25) systems, and 40 silo-based Topol-M (SS-27) systems.
There are, besides these, a number of sea-based missiles. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Russia
» Missile details: SS-19 Mod 2, SS-20, SS-21 B, SS-N-5, SS-N-6
Solovtsov Gives Overview of Russia’s Strategic Nuclear Forces
August 4, 2005 :: Interfax :: News
Colonel General Nikolai Solovtsov, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN), has laid out the military’s view of the overall role of the Missile Forces.
According to the Russian Interfax news agency, Solovtsov emphasized the Missile Forces’ purpose as a strategic deterrent, and the military’s confidence that they serve this role. The Missile Forces rely upon “an adaptive principle” of modernization, upgrading combat equipment, and building new and cutting-edge missile systems, which will continue to consist of both “stationary missile systems, or silos, boasting a high combat preparedness for immediate action, and highly-survivable mobile systems.” (More »»»)
» More stories on: Russia
» Missile details: SS-19 Mod 2, SS-20, SS-21 B, SS-N-6
Russian SS-18 Silo Scrapped
July 6, 2005 :: Itar-Tass :: News
Russia has demolished a silo-based ICBM launcher in Chelyabinsk, reports Itar-Tass. The scrapping was said to have been carried out according to the terms of the 1994 U.S.-Russian Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (START-1). The silo-based launcher was designed to hold the SS-18 Satan ICBM (otherwise known as RS-20B Voyevoda), the largest of the fourth generation Soviet ICBMs and the only “heavy” missile allowed under the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II). According to the report, an additional four silo-based launchers from the Kartaly region will be scrapped by the end of 2005. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia
» Missile details: SS-19 Mod 2
Russia Launches SS-19
August 11, 2004 :: Itar-Tass :: News
Russia today tested an RS-18 (SS-19) ICBM, reported by the Russian State news agency Itar-Tass as the 70th test launch of the massive strategic weapon, but by Interfax as having been closer to the 90th. The missile is capable of being armed with six independently targetable nuclear warheads, and has a range of over 10,000km. The successful test launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome was described in the press briefing as having accurately hit its target in the Kamchatka missile range some 6,700km away, located in far eastern Russia.
Interfax notes that this launch was the fifth this year by the Strategic Missile Forces, and cites Strategic Missile Force Commander Colonel General Nikolai Solovtsov as saying that a total of ten missile launches have been scheduled for 2004. This number most likely does not, however, include the three launches thus far this year of the short range but nuclear capable SS-21 Tochka, most recently launched eight days ago, on August 3.
The first test of the SS-19 is said to have taken place at the Baikonur space center in 1973. The SS-19s are reported to be currently in service with the Tatishchevo and the Kozelsk Strategic Missile Forces units.
A report by Interfax seems to indicate that the launch was of the more recently modified version labeled the “RS-18B,” which probably corresponds to the NATO designation SS-19 Mod 2. Moreover, the Interfax description of the characteristics of the SS-19 launched also matches those of the SS-19 Mod 2: “a range of over 10,000 km; a launch weight of 105.6 tons; a length of 24 m; a diameter of 2.5 m; two stages; a MIRV warhead, liquid-state propellant boosters; gas-dynamic launch from a silo.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-19 Mod 1, SS-19 Mod 2
Russia Preparing for Another SS-19 Test
July 13, 2004 :: Interfax :: News
Russia will test another SS-19 (RS-18) ICBM in mid-August, the Russian Defense told the Russian Interfax news agency. The test is one in a series to extend the life of the SS-19 missile. Interfax notes that the SS-19 is currently on combat duty at the Tatishchevo and Kozelsk units of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-19 Mod 1, SS-19 Mod 2
Russia Extending Life of ICBMs
May 6, 2004 :: Itar-Tass :: News
Speaking to journalists, Russian Strategic Missile Troops commander Col.-Gen. Nikolay Solovtsov said that the service life of Russian ICBMs would be extended an additional 10-15 years, for a total of 25-30 years, reports ITAR TASS.
Though Solovtsov did not specify which missiles were being extended, he was likely referring to SS-18 and SS-19s. He attributed the extension of the missile’s usability to “good maintenance.” Equally relevant, however, is the cash-strapped nature of the advanced Topol-M (SS-27) missile deployment, which continues to proceed but is currently behind schedule in producing replacing older ICBMs.
Solovtsov seemed to indicate that the Topol-M deployments would be largely complete in 10 years: “After 2015, the mainstay of the SMT group will be the Topol-M missile systems, both silo-based and mobiles ones, with various armaments.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia
» Missile details: SS-18 Mod 4, SS-19 Mod 2, SS-27
Russia to Retain Heavy SS-18s another 10-15 Years
December 17, 2003 :: London Guardian :: News
Missiles previously slated to be destroyed under the now obsolete START II Treaty will continue to be an important part of Russia’s massive offensive nuclear arsenal for another ten to fifteen years, commented top general Nikolai Solovtsov, chief of the country’s Strategic Missile Forces. “SS-18” and “Satan” are the Western designations for the missiles known in Russia as R-36.
This comment yet again confirms two things. First, that Russia is as intent as ever in maintaining a heavy nuclear offensive force—designed particularly against the United States—at levels on par with the United States. And second, that the recent Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction (SORT) Treaty permits cash-strapped Russia to do so at cost effective measures, such as extending the life of their older arsenal and thus postponing the need for heavier expenditures to produce large numbers of more modern systems, such as the SS-27. (Article, Link)
» December 5: Update on Russian Testing of SS-18 and SS-19
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: SS-19 Mod 2, SS-20
