35 years ago, the Soviet defense industry conducted the first successful tests of a promising intercontinental ballistic missile from the Topol complex. Subsequently, the necessary refinement of the complex was performed, after which the strategic missile forces received new weapons. Later, the RT-2PM complex became the basis for new systems, and the latest developments of this line will protect the country for the next several decades. Consider the history of the Topol complex and the main events that laid the foundation for the development of intercontinental missiles for the next few decades.
The development of the future missile system with an intercontinental ballistic missile, later called "Topol", began in the mid-seventies. The work was carried out at the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering (MIT) under the direction of A. D. Nadiradze. The designers studied the possibility of creating a new complex based on a three-stage solid-propellant ICBM. It was planned to use it with mobile launchers based on one of the promising chassis. In the new project, it was planned to use certain developments on existing complexes of a similar appearance.
Launch of the RT-2PM rocket. Photo Rbase.new-facrtoria.ru
After some preliminary work, on July 19, 1977, a decree of the USSR Council of Ministers was issued, according to which the MIT was to develop a full-fledged design of a rocket and launchers for it. Taking into account the results of preliminary study, it was required to ensure the possibility of launching a rocket only from a wheeled self-propelled vehicle. Mine basing was no longer planned. The rocket itself was supposed to carry a monoblock warhead with a special charge and deliver it to a range of more than 10 thousand km.
Particular attention in the new project was paid to the creation of a mobile launcher. It was this component of the complex, which distinguishes it from other operated systems, that was supposed to provide sufficient combat survivability in the event of a full-scale conflict. It should be noted that such requirements were directly related to foreign achievements in the field of missile weapons.
In the mid-seventies, the potential enemy put on duty new intercontinental missiles, which were distinguished by increased accuracy. Such a weapon, when inflicting the first disarming blow, could show outstanding results. It was capable of disabling a significant part of the existing stationary launch silos of the Soviet Strategic Missile Forces. The transfer of missiles to mobile launchers, in turn, made it very difficult to strike at them, and therefore made it possible to maintain a sufficient grouping of missiles for a retaliatory attack.
Launcher of the Topol complex. Photo from START-I / State.gov
In accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers, the new project received the code "Topol". Also, the project, the complex and the rocket received a number of other designations and names. So, the rocket was designated as RT-2PM. Despite the similarity of designations with the existing RT-2P, the new product had no direct relation to the serial rocket. The complex as a whole was assigned the GRAU 15P158 index, the rocket - 15Zh58. Later, within the framework of the START-I treaty, the designation RS-12M was introduced. NATO countries call the Russian "Poplar" SS-25 Sickle.
In addition to the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering, a number of other organizations were involved in the development of a promising mobile ground rocket complex (PGRK). The production of experimental and serial ICBMs was planned to be launched at the Votkinsk plant. The development of control and aiming systems was entrusted to the Leningrad optical-mechanical association and the Kiev plant "Arsenal". Self-propelled vehicles, including a launcher, were developed jointly by the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant and the Barrikady production association (Volgograd).
For several years, a group of Soviet enterprises carried out the necessary research and also developed the required technical documentation. All the main provisions of the Topol project were formed and worked out by the beginning of the eighties. After that, the production of experimental RT-2PM missiles, necessary for testing, was launched. The checks were planned to be carried out at several existing missile ranges.
Machine 15U168 as a museum piece. Photo Vitalykuzmin.net
In the fall of 1982, specialists from MIT and other organizations arrived at the Kapustin Yar test site to organize the first test launch of a promising rocket. According to some reports, in these tests it was planned to use a converted silo for the RT-2P rocket. On October 27, the first prototype received a start command, but the launch ended in an accident. Work on the finalization of the project and preparation of tests continued.
Checks continued in the winter of the following 1983 at the Plesetsk test site. On February 8, the combat crew of the 6th Scientific Test Directorate launched the Topol rocket. This start took place in accordance with the established program and was considered successful. Soon, joint flight tests were continued. Until the end of the summer, three more launches of an experienced ICBM were carried out. Two of them were performed using an already used launcher, and in the third, an experimental mobile launcher was used for the first time.
On August 10, 1983, the fourth test launch of the RT-2PM rocket took place, during which a self-propelled vehicle of the 15U168 type was used for the first time. According to some reports, during this check, the launcher completed its tasks, but the failure of one of the missile systems did not allow the launch to be recognized as successful. Taking into account the available data, the authors of the project made the necessary changes and continued testing.
Flight design tests of the Topol rocket and the PGRK as a whole continued until the end of 1984. During this time, 12 launches were carried out, and no more than four of them were not successful. In other cases, the ground and airborne equipment worked correctly, ensuring the fulfillment of the assigned task. The test start took place on November 24 and completed the checks. All test launches were carried out only at the Plesetsk test site. When flying at a range close to the maximum, the training warhead was delivered to the Kamchatka Kura training ground.
Machines of the "Topol" complex on the march. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation / mil.ru
In 1984, a few months before the completion of flight tests of the promising complex, the process of construction of facilities for the deployment of new technology began. In future places of permanent deployment and on proposed patrol routes, construction of fixed-base structures and temporary shelters began. Objects of this kind were built on the territory of existing units that were planned to be re-equipped. In the mid-eighties, another program was being implemented to replace obsolete missile systems with modern ones, and the Topol system was to become its key component.
At the end of December 1984, shortly after the completion of the tests, the Council of Ministers issued a decree on the launch of serial production of a new rocket complex in a mobile version. Soon after that, the Votkinsk plant and other enterprises involved in the project began mass production of the required products. New missiles were assembled in Votkinsk, and the Volgograd enterprise was building self-propelled launchers.
In mid-July 1985, the Strategic Missile Forces missile regiment, stationed in the city of Yoshkar-Ola, put the first division of mobile soil complexes of a new type on experimental combat duty. A few months later, another regiment of missile forces received the same "novelties". It was assumed that the operation of the new technology would allow getting the necessary experience in the shortest possible time. From the moment the Topol was officially adopted into service, it was possible to begin full-fledged combat duty.
Rough terrain launcher. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation / mil.ru
At the end of April 1987, the first missile regiment, fully equipped with 15P158 complexes, took over on duty in the Sverdlovsk region. This technique was controlled by a mobile command post of the "Barrier" type. About a year later, along with the new "Topols", the troops began to supply the command posts "Granit", which had different characteristics and capabilities. The first such vehicle was transferred to the Irkutsk Strategic Missile Forces in May 1988.
In parallel with the supply of new serial equipment, not yet adopted for service, the personnel of the Strategic Missile Forces carried out the first combat training launches. The first launch of a Topol rocket of this kind took place on February 21, 1985. Until the end of 1988, the troops completed at least 23 more launches. All of them were carried out at the Plesetsk training ground and ended with the successful defeat of training targets.
Some of the new launches were carried out as part of joint tests. The last test launch took place on December 23, 1987. For all the time, 16 test launches were carried out, and the share of such launches was decreasing over time, yielding primacy to the combat training use of missiles. From the beginning of 1988, for obvious reasons, all launches were carried out only for the purpose of training the personnel of the Strategic Missile Forces and checking the available materiel.
After the completion of all tests, as well as the delivery of a significant number of serial combat vehicles and other equipment, an order appeared on the official adoption of the new system into service. The Topol PGRK with the 15Zh58 / RT-2PM rocket was put into service on December 1, 1988. By this time, the missile forces had managed to obtain new weapons, as well as to master them and carry out a significant number of training launches. However, a significant number of combat units still did not pass the required rearmament, and the supply of serial equipment continued.
The complex is in position in a wooded area. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation / mil.ru
Soon after the adoption of "Topol" into service, the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering continued the development of the existing project, including with the aim of obtaining uncharacteristic results. So, in 1989, the "Start" project was proposed. It provided for the re-equipment of an intercontinental ballistic missile with its transformation into a launch vehicle. Starting from a standard launcher, such a carrier is capable of lifting up to 500 kg of payload into low-earth orbit.
At the end of 1990, missile systems with the "Sirena" product from the "Perimeter-RC" complex took over on duty. On board such a rocket, built on the basis of the RT-2PM, there is a set of special communication equipment. In the event of a failure of the standard means of communication of the missile forces, such missiles must ensure the transmission of control signals to combat complexes of all available types.
According to known data, serial production of Topol missile systems continued until 1993. Almost every year, the Strategic Missile Forces received several dozen new self-propelled launchers and missiles. The peak of production of 15U168 machines fell on 1989-90, when the troops received almost one and a half hundred pieces of equipment. In other years, the number of serial samples put on duty did not exceed 20-30 units. In total, from 1984 to 1993, more than 350-360 mobile soil complexes were built. The number of missiles built is unknown, but probably exceeds several hundred.
Launch of the RT-2PM rocket, view of the launcher. Photo of the Strategic Missile Forces / pressa-rvsn.livejournal.com
The emergence of the Offensive Arms Reduction Treaties led to the emergence of plans to partially abandon the existing 15P168 / RS-12M systems. Nevertheless, the reduction of armaments was carried out mainly at the expense of outdated models. The command tried to keep the maximum number of new Topol PGRK on duty.
At the end of the nineties, serial production of the updated Topol-M missile systems began, but this did not lead to a quick abandonment of the existing Topol. The gradual decommissioning of these systems started only a few years later. So, at the end of the last decade, several dozen launchers with a spent resource had to be disposed of. Due to the regular conduct of combat training launches and the gradual disposal, the number of deployed missiles by that time had decreased and slightly exceeded 200-210 units.
According to the latest data, only 70 Topol complexes with RT-2PM missiles are currently on duty as part of the Strategic Missile Forces. Over time, the newer mine-based and mobile-based Topol-M systems surpassed their predecessor in terms of their number. The most modern RS-24 Yars complexes, as far as is known, have by now managed to bypass both Topoli and Topoli-M in quantity. It should be noted that both Topol-M and Yars represent, to one degree or another, options for the further development of the Topol complex. The Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, developing these systems, implemented a number of new ideas, and with their help ensured an improvement in the technical characteristics and combat qualities of missiles.
The existing 15P168 Topol mobile ground-based missile systems have already depleted a significant part of their resource, and the missiles are running out of storage time. Moreover, they no longer fully meet the requirements of the foreseeable future. To date, the command of the missile forces has determined the future fate of the existing systems. Back in 2013, a missile disposal line was launched, and over the past years, several dozen missiles have been sent to this facility.
Cooling of the transport and launch container after launch. Photo of the Strategic Missile Forces / pressa-rvsn.livejournal.com
At the beginning of the next decade, the aging Topoli will be removed from service. After that, all or almost all available missiles and launchers will be used for disassembly and disposal. Perhaps some of the items will be preserved and, after certain modifications, will be included in the exposition of various museums.
After the final decommissioning of all Topol PGRKs, the group of mobile missile systems will consist of several dozen Topol-M and Yars combat vehicles. In the future, it is possible to create new systems of this kind, which will continue to use certain successful ideas proposed and implemented in the early eighties.
A few days ago was the 35th anniversary of the first successful launch of the RT-2PM rocket. This summer will mark 35 years since the first launch of such a rocket from a mobile launcher. On the first day of winter, the Strategic Missile Forces will celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Topol complex into service. In the future, these complexes, which are of considerable age and are approaching the end of their service, will finally give way to newer systems and will be removed from service. However, over the next few years, they will remain in service and help form a full-fledged nuclear missile shield.
