Now that the START Treaty exchange data have technical details on the Bulava missile (RSM-56 in the treaty), we can compare it to Topol-M. Bulava, as we have been repeatedly told, was supposed to have a lot in common with Topol-M. In reality it is about a third shorter and quite a bit "stockier". Here is the table of Bulava and Topol-M characteristics as they are defined in the START Treaty:

Bulava Topol-M
Number of stages 3 3
Length of assembled missile without front section, m 11.5 17.9
Maximum diameter of missile airframe (without stabilizers, raceways, protruding elements), m 2 1.86
Launch weight, tonnes 36.8 47.2
Total length of missile as a unit with launch canister (with front section), m 12.1 22.7
Total length of missile as a unit with launch canister (without front section), m 19.4
Length of launch canister body. m 12.1 19.4
Diameter of launch canister body (without protruding elements), m 2.1 1.95
First stage    
  Stage length. m 3.8 8.04
  Stage diameter, m 2 1.86
  Weight of fully loaded stage, tonnes 18.6 28.6
Second stage    
  Diameter (if different from first)

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1.61
Third stage    
  Diameter (if different from first)

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1.58