June 17, 2007:
Russia will
now be replacing RS-18 (SS-19) and RS-20 (SS-18) ICBMs with the newer RS-24
(SS-27 Topol M), more rapidly than earlier planned. This is the result of more
money being allocated to buying ICBMs, and more reliable new ICBMs becoming
available.
Russia continues to test
launch RS-18 and RS-20 ICBMs. Russia still has 140 (out of a 1980s peak of 360)
RS-18s in service, and expects to keep some of them active until 2010. The test
firings for the last two years have been successful, and other quality-control
tests have come back positive. The 106 ton, 76 foot long missile uses storable liquid
fuel, meaning that the missile is inherently more complex than a solid fuel
missile.
Russia was late to
perfecting solid fuel rocket technology. The RS-18 entered service in 1975, and
it wasn't until the 1980s that Russia
began producing reliable solid fuel rocket motors, large enough for ICBMs. The
last RS-18s were manufactured in 1990, and Russia expects each of them to have
a useful life of 30 years. Annual test
launches insure reliability. The RS-18 was developed as a "light" ICBM, in
effect, a competitor for the U.S. Minuteman series. The RS-18 was the first
Russian ICBM to carry MIRV (Multiple, Independent Reentry Vehicles). That means
each warhead had its own guidance system. The SS-19 carries six warheads, and
has a range of 10,000 kilometers.
The current plan is to
take some, or all, of the retired RS-18s and convert them (by adding a third
stage) to satellite launchers. This has already been done with a few missiles,
and the converted missile can lift 1.8 tons into orbit. Current technology
enables small satellites (as small as 200 pounds or less) to do useful work.
The civilianized SS-19s are perfect for launching these military states.
Russia is also extending
the life of its heavier (217 ton) RS-20 ICBMs to 30 years. This missile carries
ten warheads, and is also being converted to launch satellites. Max satellite
payload for the RS-20 is nearly three tons.
The SS-27 entered service
in 1998, and is based on the lighter, mobile, Topol (SS-25) ICBM. This was the
first successful Russian solid fuel ICBM. It is comparable to the 1960s era
U.S. Minuteman ICBMs. Solid fuel is tricky to manufacture, and after many
failed attempts to develop it, the Russians stuck with liquid fuel until the
1980s. They finally perfected their solid fuel technology, with the successful
test launch of the 45 ton Topol in 1985. The 52 ton Topol-M followed ten years
later. Both missiles have a range of 10,500 kilometers. The Topol-M is more
reliable, especially compared to the mobile Topol, which often developed reliability
problems when it was moved by truck or train, and then fired. The Topol-M also
had reliability problems, but these appear to have been fixed, so the
replacement of the older RS18 and RS20 missiles will occur sooner. Topol-Ms
cost $52 million each.