A representative of the Strategic Rocket Forces announced today that the first regiment of RS-24 missiles, deployed in Teykovo, completed the "experimental combat service" and began regular combat duty. The regiment includes six RS-24 missiles - three were deployed in early 2010 (the formal announcement was made only in July 2010) and three - in December 2010.
RS-24 is a MIRVed version of the road-mobile Topol-M. In November 2010 the Rocket Forces announced that all new mobile missiles will carry multiple warheads. New silo-based Topol-M missiles will still be carrying a single warhead.
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Thanks for the interesting article - I believe this is the first time an official source has mentioned a realistic figure for the RS-24's payload. 3-4 MIRVs with yields of 150-300kt sounds about right given what we know about the Topol-M's throwweight.
After all, the Minuteman III (a missile whose specifications in many ways resemble those of the Topol-M) also carries three warheads, with yields of, indeed, 170kt to 340kt (W62 or W78).
uvb76
Of course you meant, “carried”.
The current Minuteman III fleet has 500 warheads deployed on 450 ICBMs; scheduled to fall to 420 missiles with single warheads to comply with New START. (I’ll wager this number will actually fall to 400 deployed nuclear MMIIIs) If recent history is any indicator, this conversion will be made well ahead of the seven year window for compliance. (my best guess is 18-24 months) The W-62 was previously removed to inactive surplus, pending disassembly and disposal. The new Minuteman III modified Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle (SERV) supports both the W-78 and W-87 warheads and has been tested with dual warheads but intends on deploying with a single warhead, either the W-78 or 87.
Frank Shuler
USA
Hi Frank - indeed, 'is able to carry' would be more accurate in that context. I actually wasn't aware that the W62s had already been completely retired - thanks for the update. :)
Pavel:
1. From a technical point of view, would it be possible to refit the 18 SS-27 with the MIRV warhead section of RS-24 (I understood that the basic missiles are technically more or less identical)?
2. And are there any notable differences at the TEL system? I saw a picture in the net http://i035.radikal.ru/1101/c2/00f297e6c156.jpg
which show a distinguish fairing on the missile canister...
Thanks
Bernd: Theoretically it should be possible to retrofit already deployed Topol-Ms with multiple warheads, but it might not be worth the trouble. On the TEL, there is a document by the START Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission that describes the difference. As far as I can tell from this document, the only difference is that RS-24 launcher has some paint markings:
"The converted road-mobile test launcher of the RS-24 ICBM prototype will be distinctively marked with paint or in a similar manner to guarantee identification of this launcher during upcoming inspections;"
The single-warhead RS-12M2 "Topol-M" and the multiple-warhead RS-24 "Yars" are identical ICBM systems of the same ground-mobile missile complex 15P165.
The 15Zh65 / RT-2PM2 ballistic missile has a total lenght of 20.90 meters with front section (and 17.90 m without front section). Lenghts of the assembled missile segments are: first stage: 8.05 m, second stage: 4.45 m (1.35 m interstage), third stage: 3.85 m (1.55 m interstage), PBPS / SCDM: 1.55 m, front section / protective shroud: 3.00 m. In comparison, the RS-12M "Topol" ICBM has a total lenght of 20.50 m with, and 18.50 m without front section / reentry vehicle.
The road-mobile launcher 15U175 on vehicle chassis MZKT-79221 has a lenght of 19.30 m (without prodruding elements). Total lenght of the closed launch canister is 22.50 m (23.00 m with extended pressure accumulator hull). Launch canister lenght without front cover is
20.90 m (22.30 m with missile), and without skirt 19.50 m.
In the START I Treaty Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of 1 July 2007 Russia declared two mobile test launchers of the RS-12M2 "Topol-M" ("RS-12M Variant 2 for road-mobile launcher" under START I). In the next MOU data exchange of 1 January 2008, Russia declared one of this two launchers of the Plesetsk test range as a "road-mobile test launcher for ICBM RS-24 prototype." This test launcher is visible in a Russian TV video sequence (see "YouTube": "ICBM Second launch of RS-24 Yars"). The driver´s cab of this mobile launcher is marked with the number "24." For another RS-24 mobile launcher see a RIA Novosti video (en.rian.ru: "Russia develops unique Yars ballistic missile"). The RS-24 launcher also is the same like the "Topol-M" launcher, which was presented publicly on the military parade on 9 May 2010 in Moscow - and it has the same missile. So it is possible to equip "Topol-M" ICBMs with the modified deployment module and multiple warheads of the RS-24.