RT-23U 15Zh60

Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z

RT-23U 15Zh60

Part of RT-23

Ukrainian intercontinental ballistic missile. Design began of the silo-based version of the RT-23UTTKh on 9 August 1983.

AKA: 15Zh60;Molodets;RS-22A;Scalpel;SS-24 Mod 1. Status: Retired 1990. First Launch: 1982-12-05. Last Launch: 1990-05-15. Number: 21 . Payload: 4,050 kg (8,920 lb). Thrust: 2,060.00 kN (463,100 lbf). Gross mass: 104,500 kg (230,300 lb). Height: 23.40 m (76.70 ft). Diameter: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Span: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Location: Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

The draft project was completed in September 1984. Stand trials of the modified 15D305 engine with a single gimbaled 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 Permovaisk, 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.

Maximum range: 10,110 km (6,280 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 10. Warhead yield: 300 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Initial Operational Capability: 1988.

Family: ICBM, silo-launched. Country: Ukraine. Launch Sites: Plesetsk, Plesetsk LC163. Stages: RT-23-3, 15D305, 15D339. Agency: Yuzhnoye.

1982 December 5 - . 01:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-39. Launch Vehicle: RT-23U 15Zh60.

Test mission - . Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1986 - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-39. Launch Vehicle: RT-23U 15Zh60.

Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1986 - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-39. Launch Vehicle: RT-23U 15Zh60.

Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1986 - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-39. Launch Vehicle: RT-23U 15Zh60.

Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1986 - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-39. Launch Vehicle: RT-23U 15Zh60.

Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1986 - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-39. Launch Vehicle: RT-23U 15Zh60.

Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1986 July 31 - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-39. Launch Vehicle: RT-23U 15Zh60.

Test mission - . Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).