R-11 Cutaway

First Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile. Range 150 km with 967 kg warhead. Accuracy 1.5 km in range, 0.75 km lateral. Following protracted testing the design was accepted by the military in 1959 but never put into operational service.

SKB-385 was given complete responsibility for development of the sub-launched R-11FM in August 1955.

Tests of the R-11FM had begun in February 1955 at Kapustin Yar with three experimental launches of the missile from a standard R-11 launch stand. This was followed by launches from a special stand simulating a ship's motion, developed by A P Abramov. Finally a third test series was conducted from the Project 611 submarine B-57 from 16 September to 13 October 1955 in the White Sea. This demonstrated launches from a pitching surfaced vessel and a total range of 150 km. Following further trials the system was accepted for military surface in 1959, but never deployed on an operational vessel. However the project had cemented Makeyev's relationship with the Soviet Navy, which decided to make him their sole source for all future naval ballistic missiles.

Manufacturer: Makeyev. Launches: 24. Failures: 1. Success Rate: 95.83%. First Launch Date: 1954-09-26. Last Launch Date: 1960-09-10. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 80.900 kN (18,187 lbf). Total Mass: 4,473 kg (9,861 lb). Core Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Total Length: 9.00 m (29.50 ft). Maximum range: 150 km (90 mi).

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: R-11FM. Gross Mass: 4,473 kg (9,861 lb). Empty Mass: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb). Thrust (vac): 92.829 kN (20,869 lbf). Isp: 250 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Isp(sl): 218 sec. Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Span: 1.82 m (5.97 ft). Length: 7.40 m (24.20 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: S2.253. Status: Out of production. First Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile. Range 150 km with 967 kg warhead. Accuracy 1.5 km in range, 0.75 km lateral.

1949 December 7 - Launch Vehicle: G-4, R-3, R-3A, R-5, R-11, R-11FM, R-7, Buran, Burya.

• Groettrup G-4 IRBM evaluated against Korolev's R-3. R-3 project reformulated Nation: USSR. Program: Navaho. The NTS (Scientific-Technical Soviet) of NII-88 met in plenary session and subjected Korolev's proposal to withering criticism. The G-4 was found to be superior. After heated discussion, the Soviet approved further development of technology for the R-3, but not the missile itself. The decisions were: an R-3A technology demonstrator would be built and flown under Project N-1 (probably to prove G-4 concepts). Under Project N-2 both the RD-110 and D-2 engines would proceed into development test in order to prove Lox/Kerosene propellant technology. Packet rocket and lightweight structure research for use in an ICBM would continue under project N-3 / T-1. Winged intercontinental cruise missile studies would continue under project N-3 / T-2. Neither the G-4 or R-3 ended up in production, but the design concepts of the G-4 led directly to Korolev's R-7 ICBM (essentially a cluster of G-4's or R-3A's) and the N1 superbooster. Work on the G-4 continued through 1952.

• R-11FM authorised. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on the R-11FM' was issued. References: 474.

• R-11FM platform development authorised Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On creation of the submerged submarine-launched ballistic missile' was issued. References: 474.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Tests of the R-11FM SLBM begun at Kapustin Yar Nation: USSR. Tests began with three experimental launches of the missile from a standard R-11 launch stand. This was followed by launches from a special stand simulating a ship's motion, developed by A P Abramov.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• SKB-385 given complete responsibility for development of the sub-launched R-11FM Nation: USSR. This derivative of the land-based R-11 ('Scud') was the first Soviet SLBM.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). The third test series was conducted from the Project 611 submarine B-67 through 13 October 1955 in the White Sea. This demonstrated launches from a pitching surfaced vessel and a total range of 150 km. References: 1864.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 283.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Launched from Pacific Ocean Launch Area for Soviet/Russian submarines References: 932.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: VMF. References: 932.

• R-11FM accepted into military service. Nation: USSR. Decree 'On adoption of the R-11FM into armaments' was issued. The first Soviet SLBM system was accepted, but never deployed on an operational vessel. However the project had cemented Makeyev's relationship with the Soviet Navy, which decided to make him their sole source for all future naval ballistic missiles.References: 474.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: VMF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 932.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994. ISBN: 1896522815. Dual English/Russian language picture book of the history of the Energia Corporation. Many unique photos and drawings of Korolev's rockets and spacecraft. Republished by Apogee books in 2000. More at amazon.com...