George1 Thu Nov 22, 2012 2:20 pm
Deployment of new solid-propellant ICBM expected in 2015
The new missile that was tested in Kapustin Yar on October 24, 2012 remains a bit of a mystery, but probably not for long. As I was going through my old notes, I discovered that the commander of the Rocket Forces, Sergei Karakayev actually described the new missile in some detail in his December 2011 interview.
He mentioned a development of a new "medium-class" solid-propellant missile "with a new type of combat payload" that will be deployed on mobile launchers as well as in silos. Karakayev said that the new missile is build "on the basis of the technical solutions implemented during the development of the Yars missile." He also said that deployment of the new missile is expected to begin in 2015.
So, everything suggests that it is an evolutionary development of the Topol-M/Yars line (as it was suggested at the time of the first failed launch attempt in September 2011). The "medium-class" reference could suggests that the new missile is somewhat heavier than Topol-M/Yars, although probably not much - it should still be light enough for a mobile launcher. The initial reports suggested that the new missile uses the same first stage as Yars (that explains Karakayev's "Yars technology" reference), so the difference is probably in larger upper stages. The missile could probably fit in the same launch canister (but it's just a guess). The "new combat payload" part explains the launch from Kapustin Yar to Sary-Shagan. I hope that we'll hear more about the new missile soon.
http://russianforces.org/blog/2012/11/deployment_of_new_solid-propel.shtml
Russia to Deploy New ICBM in 2014
MOSCOW, November 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will deploy its newest medium-weight solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in 2014, a military source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
Previously, Strategic Missile Forces (RSVN) commander Sergei Karakayev said Russia would deploy such a weapon only in 2015.
"According to the latest information, it will be accepted into service in 2014; the new weapon is part of a response program to the United States ballistic missile defense program," the source said, without naming the new system.
The Strategic Missile Forces test-fired a prototype of the new weapon in October from the Kapustin Yar test range, he said. "This was a test launch as part of combined state trials," he said, adding the weapon will be formally accepted only after completion of those trials.
The new weapon will be primarily based on mobile launchers, he said. "So far there has been no decision on whether to base them in silos," he added.
The missile will have intercontinental range, or more than 3,500 miles (5,500 kilometers), he said.
http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20121121/177633695.html
Last edited by George1 on Fri Sep 01, 2023 3:16 pm; edited 1 time in total