Rating of the magazine "Popular Mechanics"
The most mobile missile launcher: Mobile and silo-based Topol-M ICBMs
Country Russia
First launch: 1994
START code: RS-12M
Number of steps: 3
Length (MS): 22.5 m
Launch weight: 46.5 t
Throw weight: 1, 2 t
Range: 11,000 km
Warhead type: monoblock, nuclear
Fuel type: solid
Nitrogen tetroxide usually acts as an oxidizing agent for heptyl. Heptyl missiles were devoid of many of the drawbacks of oxygen missiles, and so far the main part of Russia's nuclear missile arsenal is ICBMs with LPRE on high-boiling components. The first American ICBMs (Atlas and Titan) also operated liquid fuel, but back in the 1960s, US designers began to radically switch to solid fuel engines. The fact is that high-boiling fuel is by no means an ideal alternative to kerosene with oxygen. Heptyl is four times more toxic than hydrocyanic acid, that is, each missile launch is accompanied by the release of extremely harmful substances into the atmosphere. The consequences of an accident with a fueled missile will also be sad, especially if it happens, say, on a submarine. Compared to solid-propellant missiles, liquid-propellant missiles also differ in more difficult operating conditions, a lower level of combat readiness and safety, and a shorter fuel storage period. Even starting with the Minutemen I and Polaris A-1 missiles (and this is the beginning of the 1960s), the Americans completely switched to solid-fuel designs. And in this matter, our country had to run in pursuit. The first Soviet ICBM on solid fuel cells was developed at the Korolev OKB-1 (now RSC Energia), which gave the military theme to Yangel and Chelomey, who were considered apologists for liquid-propellant missiles. Tests of the RT-2 began at Kapustin Yar and in Plesetsk in 1966, and in 1968 the rocket entered service.
The most promising Russian: Yars RS-24
Country Russia
First launch: 2007
Number of steps: 3
Length (MS): 13 m
Launch mass: no data
Throw weight: no data
Range: 11000
Warhead type: MIRV, 3-4 warheads, 150-300 CT each
Fuel type: solid
The new missile, the first launch of which took place just three years ago, unlike the Topol-M, has multiple warheads. It became possible to return to such a design after Russia's withdrawal from the START-1 treaty, which banned MIRVs. It is believed that the new ICBM will gradually replace the UR-100 and R-36M multiply-charged modifications in the Strategic Missile Forces and, along with the Topol-M, will form a new, updated core of Russia's strategic nuclear forces being reduced under the START III treaty.
The heaviest: R-36M "Satan"
Country: USSR
First launch: 1970
START code: RS-20
Number of steps: 2
Length (MS): 34.6 m
Launch weight: 211 t
Throw weight: 7.3 t
Range: 11,200-16,000 km
MS type: 1 x 25 Mt, 1 x 8 Mt or 8 x 1 Mt
Fuel type: solid
"Korolev works for TASS, and Yangel works for us" - the military involved in the missile theme joked half a century ago. The point of the joke is simple - Korolev's oxygen missiles were declared unsuitable as ICBMs and sent to storm space, and the military leadership, instead of the Korolev R-9, relied on heavy ICBMs with engines running on high-boiling propellants. The first Soviet heavy heptyl ICBM was the R-16, developed at the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau (Dnepropetrovsk) under the leadership of M. K. Yangel. The heirs of this line were the R-36 missiles, and then the R-36M in several modifications. The latter received the NATO designation SS-18 Satan ("Satan"). Currently, the Strategic Missile Forces of Russia is armed with two modifications of this missile - R-36M UTTH and R-36M2 Voyevoda. The latter is designed to destroy all types of targets protected by modern missile defense systems, in any conditions of combat use, including multiple nuclear impacts on the positional area. Also, on the basis of the R-36M, the commercial space carrier "Dnepr" was created.
Longest range: Trident II D5 SLBM
Country: USA
First launch: 1987
Number of steps: 3
Length (MS): 13, 41 m
Launch weight: 58 t
Throw weight: 2, 8 t
Range: 11,300 km
MS type: 8x475 Kt or 14x100 Kt
Fuel type: solid
The submarine-based ballistic missile Trident II D5 has little in common with its predecessor (Trident D4). It is one of the newest and most technologically advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles. Trident II D5s are installed on American Ohio-class submarines and on British Vanguard submarines and are currently the only type of sea-based nuclear ballistic missiles in service with the United States. Composite materials were actively used in the design, which greatly facilitated the rocket body. The high firing accuracy, confirmed by 134 tests, makes this SLBM a first-strike weapon. Moreover, there are plans to equip the missile with a conventional warhead for the so-called Prompt Global Strike. As part of this concept, the US government hopes to be able to deliver a high-precision non-nuclear strike anywhere in the world within an hour. True, the use of ballistic missiles for such purposes is in question because of the risk of a nuclear-missile conflict.
The very first combat: V-2 ("V-two")
Country: Germany
First launch: 1942
Number of steps: 1
Length (MS): 14 m
Launch weight: 13 t
Throwing weight: 1 t
Range: 320 km
Fuel type: 75% ethyl alcohol
The pioneering creation of the Nazi engineer Werner von Braun needs no special introduction - his "weapon of retaliation" (Vergeltungswaffe-2) is well known, in particular, for the fact that, fortunately for the Allies, it turned out to be extremely ineffective. Each V-2 released across London killed, on average, less than two people. But the German developments have become an excellent base for the Soviet and American rocket and space programs. Both the USSR and the USA began their journey to the stars by copying the "V-2".
The first underwater intercontinental: R-29
Country: USSR
First launch: 1971
START code: RSM-40
Number of steps: 2
Length (MS): 13 m
Launch weight: 33.3 t
Throw weight: 1.1 t
Range: 7800-9100 km
MS type: monoblock, 0.8-1 Mt
Fuel type: liquid (heptyl)
Rocket R-29, developed in the design bureau im. Makeeva, was deployed on 18 project 667B submarines, its modification R-29D - on four 667BD missile carriers. The creation of intercontinental SLBMs gave serious advantages to the USSR Navy, since it became possible to keep submarines much farther from the shores of a potential enemy.
The very first with an underwater launch: Polaris A-1
Country: USA
First launch: 1960
Quantity
steps: 2
Length (MS): 8, 53 m
Launch weight: 12, 7 t
Throw weight: 0.5 t
Range: 2200 km
MS type: monoblock, 600 Kt
Fuel type: solid
The first attempts to launch missiles from submarines were made by the military and engineers of the Third Reich, but the real SLBM race began with the Cold War. despite the fact that the USSR was somewhat ahead of the United States with the beginning of the development of an underwater launch ballistic missile, our designers were long pursued by failures. as a result, they were outstripped by the Americans with the polaris a-1 missile. On July 20, 1960, this rocket was launched from the George Washington nuclear submarine from a depth of 20 meters. The Soviet competitor - the R-21 rocket designed by M. K. Yangel - made a successful start 40 days later.
The very first in the world: R-7
Country: USSR
First launch: 1957
Number of steps: 2
Length (MS): 31.4 m
Launch weight: 88, 44 t
Throw weight: up to 5.4 t
Range: 8000 km
Warhead type: monoblock, nuclear, detachable
Fuel type: liquid (kerosene)
The legendary royal "seven" was born painfully, but was honored to become the world's first ICBM. True, very mediocre. R-7 started only from an open, that is, a very vulnerable position, and most importantly, due to the use of oxygen as an oxidizer (it evaporated), it could not be on combat duty in a refueled state for a long time. It took hours to prepare for the launch, which categorically did not suit the military, as well as the low accuracy of the hit. On the other hand, the R-7 opened the way to space for mankind, and the Soyuz-U - the only carrier for manned launches today - is nothing more than a modification of the Seven.
Most Ambitious: MX (LGM-118A) Peacekeeper
Country: USA
First launch: 1983
Number of steps: 3 (plus step
breeding warheads)
Length (MS): 21, 61 m
Launch weight: 88, 44 t
Throw weight: 2.1 t
Range: 9600 km
MS type: 10 nuclear warheads of 300 CT each
Fuel type: solid (I-III stages), liquid (dilution stage)
The Peacemaker (MX) heavy ICBM, created by American designers by the mid-1980s, was the embodiment of many interesting ideas and cutting-edge technologies, such as the use of composite materials. Compared to the Minuteman III (of that time), the MX missile had a significantly higher hitting accuracy, which increased the likelihood of hitting Soviet silo launchers. Particular attention was paid to the survivability of the rocket in conditions of nuclear impact, the possibility of a railway mobile base was seriously considered, which forced the USSR to develop a similar complex RT-23 UTTH.
Fastest: Minuteman LGM-30G
Country: USA
First launch: 1966
Number of steps: 3
Length (MS): 18.2 m
Launch weight: 35.4 t
Throw weight: 1.5 t
Range: 13000 km
MS type: 3x300 CT
Fuel type: solid
Minuteman III light missiles are the only land-based ICBMs currently in service with the United States. Despite the fact that the production of these missiles was discontinued three decades ago, these weapons are subject to modernization, including with the introduction of technical advances implemented in the MX rocket. It is believed that the Minuteman III LGM-30G is the most or one of the fastest ICBMs in the world and can accelerate to 24,100 km / h in the terminal phase of flight.
