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Tracking Topol-Ms

The START MoU, released earlier this week, shows that three Topol-M missiles (silo-version) were on their way to Tatishchevo - they were reported to be at the storage facility in Khrizolitovyy as of July 1st. This means that we can expect the number of silo-based Topol-Ms to raise to 45 by the end of the year. It is also expected that three mobile Topol-Ms will begin operations in Teykovo, but there was no sign of these missiles in July. It is unclear what happened to the plan to produce seven missiles this year. If the report about seven missiles was correct, we will probably see a test launch of Topol-M in the remaining months of 2006.

[Rocket Forces] [October 14, 2006] []

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References to this entry

The missile division in Teykovo received it first mobile Topol-M missile. Two more are expected to arrive by the end of the year, brining the number of mobile Topol-M missiles to three. Three more Topol-Ms are being deployed in silos,...
[First mobile Topol-M in Teykovo] [October 23, 2006 1:08 PM] [#]
The Russian government disclosed some of its defense spending and acquisition plans for 2007. According to the minister of defense, in 2007 the total spending on national defense will reach “more than 820 billion rubles”, “more than 300 billion r...
[Plans for 2007 are taking shape] [November 17, 2006 10:31 AM] [#]
The Strategic Rocket Forces announced on December 10, 2006 that the first regiment of mobile Topol-M missiles became operational with the missile division in Teykovo.
[First mobile Topol-M missiles became operational] [December 11, 2006 2:29 PM] [#]
The Rocket Forces just celebrated the 47th anniversary of the service and on the occasion disclosed some of the missile deployment plans for the coming years. As it turned out, out of the 17 missiles that the defense ministry is...
[MIRVing Topol-M and other missile business] [December 18, 2006 8:20 PM] [#]
Commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces, Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, was reported as saying that his service is going to deploy seven new Topol-M missiles this year - four silo-based and three mobile. This is a bit different from the earlier...
[Puzzles of the 2007 missile deployment plan] [April 15, 2007 4:22 PM] [#]

Comments

Any word on when, if ever, those Topol-M's are going to be MIRV'd?

[Vincent] [October 17, 2006] [#]

Dear Pavel,

I hope I could make some comments about the Topol-M.

Firstly, I recall reading some stuff about the short boost phase capability of the Topol-M. How vulnerable would the Topol-M be to a boost phase interceptor deployed in Poland or the Czech Republic?

Secondly, I just saw this article on theoretical breakthroughs in hypersonic warhead technologies from the US Air Force:
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123029270

I recall Putin making some remarks about a Hypersonic MaRV warhead for the Topol-M. Is there any research going on in Russia on a hypersonic Marv capability for the Topol-M and, if so, how serious is it and how many MaRV warheads can be deployed on a Topol-M?

Regards,
Marko Beljac.

[Marko Beljac] [October 19, 2006] [#]

As far as I understand, the boost phase of Topol-M is not much shorter than that of other solid-propellant missiles. I haven't looked at the issue, but it does appear that Topol-M trajectories might be within the reach of interceptors deployed in Europe. But I don't think it matters (which doesn't mean deployment of interceptors in Europe is a good idea - it is not).

As for the "hypersonic" warhead, I've written about it before - here and here, for example. This thing is not developed for Topol-M and I don't think it will ever be deployed.

[Pavel Podvig] [October 19, 2006] [#]

Summarizing, this year will be deployed 3 silo based and 3 mobile Topol-m. That’s right?

[Kolokol] [October 19, 2006] [#]

Looks like it. We'll probably have to wait till December to find out.

[Pavel Podvig] [October 19, 2006] [#]

Hello,

I have three questions related to that missile:

How much have the Topol and Topol-M in common? Is the relation between them something like between the Minuteman II and III, or is the Topol-M a completely new missile?

Are the mobile launchers for the Topol-M the ones from phased out Topols?

And what means "Topol" in English?

Martin

[Martin] [October 20, 2006] [#]

Martin. Topol means “Poplar tree”. The Topol-m is a heavily improved version of the Topol. They differ in diameter, length (albeit slightly) and also in navigational stuffs.
Launchers are also different. The new one is in fact heavier and with more wheels.
Surely Pavel can give you more accurate description of differences.

[Kolokol] [October 20, 2006] [#]

Topol-M is not, in fact, a modification of Topol. It is a different missile, which was developed jointly by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau and MITT in the late 1980s. It was known as the Universal project at the time. A few missiles had been produced before the breakup of the Soviet Union, but no flight tests had been conducted. After 1991 the production was transferred to MITT.

[Pavel Podvig] [October 20, 2006] [#]

Thank you folks for answering my question. "Poplar Tree" is a very strange name for a missile, isn´t it? So when we deal with names, what means "Bulava"?

Martin

[Martin] [October 25, 2006] [#]

Who cares what the names mean ... it means (in English) the balancing of global reach again within the rebuilding of balanced strategic triads of nuclear defense/offense. It will mean rogue nations stay home and develop diplomatic policy instead of third world unilateral invasions of fake WMD (why??? the fuss) ... it means hey you we having something to talk to you about if you interfere in traditional areas of mutual understanding and big power politics!

[Ozzy] [October 25, 2006] [#]

I’m curious too. What does "Bulava" translate to in English?

Frank Shuler
USA

[Frank Shuler] [October 26, 2006] [#]

As I understand, translation for "bulava" is "mace"

[Pavel Podvig] [October 26, 2006] [#]

Dear Mr.Podvig!
Regarding that mobile Topol-Ms: are they going to be deployed in a similar pattern as with (Standard-)Topol (SS-25); I mean in those sliding roof garages? But obviously there are no such installations at Teykovo Area, yet. Therefore I always though that they would be deployed in former SS-25 locations. Best Regards from bernd

[bernd reuter] [November 26, 2006] [#]

Teykovo is one of the Topol/SS-25 deployment sites. It has the garages and all the infrastructure.

[Pavel Podvig] [November 26, 2006] [#]

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