The R-36 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Heavy ICBM is a term that was created in the 1970s to describe a class of Soviet ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles).[1] They were characterized by a heavy throw-weight of 5 to 9 metric tons (hence the word, "heavy," in the name) and a length of over 35 meters, and were thus capable of delivering a large number of warheads in a single MIRV missile.
This term usually refers only to R36/SS-9 Scarp[2] and the R36 M/SS-18 SATAN[3] missiles.[1]
Deliveries[]
The SS-9 was silo launched missile capable of delivering warheads of 5 - 18 Mega tons, traveling a distance of up to 15,500 km,[4] these were then replace by the similar SS-18 with payloads of 18 - 25 Mega tons. The silos used for launching were the same for both, once modified.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Graham, Thomas, Jr.; Damien J. La Vera (2003). Cornerstones of Security: Arms Control Treaties in the Nuclear Era. University of Washington Press. pp. 336 et al.. ISBN 9780295982960.
- ↑ "R-36 / SS-9 SCARP". www.fas.org. http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/icbm/r-36.htm. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ↑ "R-36M / SS-18 SATAN". www.fas.org. http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/icbm/r-36m.htm. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ↑ "SS-9". www.missilethreat.com. http://www.missilethreat.com/missilesoftheworld/id.124/missile_detail.asp. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
The original article can be found at Heavy ICBM and the edit history here.