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Rail-mobile ICBMs are likely to make a comeback

Russia might consider bringing back rail-mobile ICBMs - the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology is expected to complete a draft proposal by the summer of 2014. The decision to proceed with the system has not been made yet, but the idea apparently has support of the commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces. Press reports suggest that Karakayev said that the work on rail-mobile missiles is a response to the U.S. Prompt Global Strike plans.

It is likely that the system will include the RS-24 Yars missile deployed on a rail-mobile TEL. Unlike the earlier rail-mobile ICBM, RT-23UTTH/SS-24, RS-24 Yars is compact enough to fit into a standard-size railroad car.

The chances that the new project will be approved appear to be fairly high. The idea of rail-mobile missiles has plenty of supporters in Russia and virtually no opponents. The only problem is the cost, but in the past it never deterred the current leadership. Indeed, the proposal was considered several years ago and at that time the military said that there is no immediate need to return to rail-mobile missiles. But in the past year or so, that decision was reconsidered and MITT was asked to prepare a draft technical project. So, there is a certain momentum behind the idea.

[Rocket Forces] [December 18, 2013] []

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References to this entry

The Strategic Rocket Forces will receive a new rail-mobile ICBM after all. The new missile system, named Barguzin, is being developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. The institute began working on the missile in 2013 and so far...
[Rail-mobile ICBM, Barguzin, gets a green light] [December 17, 2014 3:20 PM] [#]
Barguzin, the project to develop a rail-mobile ICBM, appears to have been cancelled again - according to a source in the defense industry, quoted in the Russian press, the program has been closed, "at least for the time being." This...
[Barguzin rail-mobile ICBM is cancelled (again)] [December 4, 2017 10:25 AM] [#]

Comments

Ok, just to recap. The RS-24 Yars is being deployed to replace the remaining silo SS-19s and the road mobile Topol SS-25s. In turn, it will replace the single warhead SS-27 Topol-M ICBM, both silo and road mobile, as those missiles reach their end-of-life. The new liquid fueled “Sarmat” is designed to replace the existing SS-18 silo missiles. The rail/road mobile RS-26 is being produced to compliment the RS-24 Yars. At the end of this process, The Strategic Rocket Forces will have these three ICBMs; the RS-24, the RS-26 and Sarmat. Is that just about where we are?

Frank Shuler
USA

[Frank Shuler ] [December 19, 2013] [#]

Sounds about right

You just missed off what I'll be changing my user name to? :-)

[Topol-M ] [December 19, 2013] [#]

Why should a rail-based launcher cost more than a ground-based one? I'm no expert, but common sense suggests otherwise.

[mrg63] [December 27, 2013] [#]

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