Model: RT-23 15Zh52. IOC: 1982. Other Designations: RS-22. Department of Defence Designation: SS-24 Mod 2. ASCC Reporting Name: Scalpel. Article Number: 15Zh52. Alternate Designation: PL-04. Missile: 15Zh52.

A draft project of the 15Zh52 MIRV train-based version of the RT-23 was completed in June 1980. The system was designed to allow the mobile launchers to conduct long-duration deployments up to 200 km from base. A Special Trials Unit at Plesetsk began testing of the system on 20 July 1982, with launches beginning a year later. A 10 February 1983 decree ordered development and production of a modernised RT-23UTTKh with MIRV capability and a more economical train system. However the test system had demonstrated three mobile deployments up to 1500 km from base.

The rocket was cold-launched from its transport/storage container by a powdered gas charge. All three stages used single-nozzle monolithic solid motors. Stage one used gas injection for thrust vectoring, stages 2 and 3 used aerodynamic vanes and nose swivelling for control. A post-boost bus with a liquid propellant motor dispensed the warheads.

The 3D65 first stage was taken from that designed by Yuzhnoye for the Makeyev R-39 SLBM. Development had begun in September 1973, with static tests beginning in January 1980. Series production of all stages for both the RT-23 and R-39 were undertaken by the Pavlograd Mechanical Factory with Zhukov at NII-125 providing the solid rocket motors. The guidance was by Vladimir Lapygin of NII AP. The bus could deploy a mix of warheads and countermeasures to confuse enemy defence systems. The ground-based missile control systems were developed by Aksyutin and Leontenkov at TsKB TM. The systems were subject to a unique electromagnetic interference requirement due to the electric railway.

The Soviets were particularly proud to have developed and deployed the RT-23 train-launched ICBM. The Americans had also pursued such a system repeatedly over the years, but never achieved it.

Launches: 1. First Launch Date: 1984-01-18. Last Launch Date: 1984-01-18. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 95,000 kg (209,000 lb). Core Diameter: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Total Length: 23.80 m (78.00 ft). Span: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Standard warhead mass: 3,200 kg (7,000 lb). Maximum range: 10,000 km (6,000 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead yield: 1,000 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Cruise Propulsion: Solid rocket. Stage 3 Engine: Solid rocket. Guidance: Inertial.

Model: RT-23U 15Zh60.

SS-24 Credit - Ukrainian Space Agency

IOC: 1988. Other Designations: RS-22A. Department of Defence Designation: SS-24 Mod 1. ASCC Reporting Name: Scalpel. Article Number: 15Zh60. Popular Name: Molodets. Missile: 15Zh60.

Design began of the silo-based version of the RT-23UTTKh on 9 August 1983. The draft project was completed in September 1984. Stand trials of the modified 15D305 engine with a single gimballed nozzle began in November 1984. This would replace the gas-injection thrust vectoring system of the original RT-23. Performance of the second stage would be improved by use of a filament-wound case and deployable nozzle extension. All stages would have more energetic solid propellants with higher specific impulse than their train-based versions. The ten-warhead MIRV dispenser was covered by a fairing during ascent.

Eight silos were built at Plesetsk for flight trials, which were conducted from 31 July 1986 to 23 September 1988. These included 28 launches, including 20 instrumented test flights. Series production of the missile was conducted at the Pavlograd Mechanical Factory from 1983 to 1991. In May 1986 it was decided for security reasons to move responsibility for the countermeasures system from Yuzhnoye to a Russian contractor.

The RT-23UTTKh was fitted in existing UR-100NUTTKh silos that had been super-hardened during the 1980's according to a design by Oleg Baskalakov at GNIP OKB Vympel. The first regiment becoming operational at Permovaisk on 19 August 1988. Further missiles were installed at Tatischevo the following year. The system was formally accepted by the military for service on 28 November 1989. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, 46 missiles had been deployed in Pervomaisk, in the Ukraine, and ten in Tatishchevo, in Russia. Those in Ukraine were removed and the silos destroyed by 1997. The ten remaining missiles in Tatishchevo were to be destroyed by the end of 2003 under the terms of the START-2 Treaty.

Launches: 13. First Launch Date: 1982-10-26. Last Launch Date: 1988-09-26. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 2,060.000 kN (463,100 lbf). Total Mass: 104,500 kg (230,300 lb). Core Diameter: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Total Length: 23.40 m (76.70 ft). Span: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Standard warhead mass: 4,050 kg (8,920 lb). Maximum range: 10,110 km (6,280 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 10. Standard warhead yield: 300 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Cruise Propulsion: Solid rocket. Stage 3 Engine: Solid rocket. Stage 3 Propellants: Solid rocket. Guidance: Inertial.

Model: RT-23U 15Zh61.

RT-23

IOC: 1987. Other Designations: RS-22B. Department of Defence Designation: SS-24 Mod 2. ASCC Reporting Name: Scalpel. Article Number: 15Zh61. Popular Name: Molodets. Alternate Designation: PL-04. Missile: 15Zh61.

A decree of 9 August 1982 ordered development of an improved RT-23UTTKh, dubbed 'Molodets'. Three basing modes were to be possible using a single containerised missile: train-launched, a 'Tselina-2' road-mobile transport, or silo-based. This would be able to deploy up to ten nuclear warheads from a layered circular dispenser. The draft project for the 15Zh60 train-launched version was completed in September 1984. In order to improve accuracy of the train-based version, it was decided to use navigation signals electrically relayed through the tracks.

Development of the train-based version involved tremendous technical challenges. The train wagon had to handle the tremendous 200 tonne weight of the missile in its container, as well as the structural stress and rebound of launch of a 100 tonne missile. A split roof on the launch wagons allowed the missile container to be raised to a vertical position. Then the cold launch mortar blew the missile 30 m into the sky before the first stage motor ignited. The missile guidance system had to ensure that the missile exhaust did not strike critical areas of the train.

32 flight trials launches of the train-launched missile were conducted from Plesetsk between 27 February 1985 and 22 December 1987. The first regiment was formed on 20 October 1987 at Kostroma. A regiment consisted of a single train of 17 wagons, which included three launch wagons, a command wagon, a wagon with a power generator, an autonomous life support system, and living quarters, and a navigation support wagon. The train was designed to operate for up to two months without resupply, at distances of up to 1500 km from its logistic home base. In times of tension the trains were parked in railway tunnels for both blast protection and to hide them from enemy reconnaissance satellites.

By 1988 six to seven regiments, a total of about 20 launchers, had been deployed to Kostroma. The train-launched missile was formally accepted for service in December 1988, and the entire train system on 28 November 1989. The special train P-450 completed life verification tests of the train's systems and missile in December 1991.

The collapse of the Soviet Union found the manufacturer in newly-independent Ukraine, but the Russians continued use of the unique capability. By 1999 there were rocket divisions at Kostroma, Bershet, and Gladkaya, each composed of four regiments, or 36 launchers. They were moved around constantly, but normally parked on rail sidings at least 20 km from each other. However under the terms of the START-2 Treaty, all mobile RT-23's were to be destroyed by 2003.

Launches: 4. First Launch Date: 1985-02-27. Last Launch Date: 1998-12-09. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 104,500 kg (230,300 lb). Core Diameter: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Total Length: 23.30 m (76.40 ft). Span: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Standard warhead mass: 4,050 kg (8,920 lb). Maximum range: 10,000 km (6,000 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 10. Standard warhead yield: 400 KT. Standard warhead CEP: 0.21 km (0.13 mi). Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Cruise Propulsion: Solid rocket. Stage 3 Engine: Solid rocket. Guidance: Inertial.

Model: Tselina-2.

Development of the Tselina-2 road transport for a heavy ICBM can be traced back to the late 1960's. By the 1970's two versions had been designed, the 12-axle MAZ-7906 and 8-axle MAZ-7907. They could transport loads of up to 140 tonnes, much greater than the single-warhead RT-23 and its container. Although trials of prototypes were conducted in the 1980's, the road mobile version of the RT-23 was never put into service.

Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Cruise Propulsion: Solid rocket. Stage 3 Engine: Solid rocket. Guidance: Inertial.