The R-36M intercontinental ballistic missile, classified by NATO as SS-18 «Satan», has been on combat duty in the USSR, and then in the Russian Armed Forces, since December 25, 1974.
It is capable of overcoming missile defense and hitting any point in the United States with at least ten thermonuclear warheads.
«Satan» entered the Guinness Book of Records as the heaviest and most powerful ICBM in the world. The total salvo of one such missile division in terms of power is equal to 13 thousand atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima, and in terms of weight — over two hundred tons — it is comparable to the Statue of Liberty or the Tsar Bell.
«Satan» developer Vladimir Utkin shared his memories of the first tests of the missile prototypes.
In that instant, the earth split open, and clouds of fire, dust and smoke soared up. The body of the rocket appeared from this seething hell. The roar hit the eardrums, constantly increasing. In the solemn hum of rocket engines, the formidable and powerful machine went on its route.
Tactical and technical characteristics of «Satan»:
- mass – 211 t
- length – 34.6 m
- diameter – 3 m
- number of stages – 2
- fuel – storable liquid
- fuel mass – 188 t
- launcher type – silo
- start type – active-reactive
- readiness – 62 sec
- warhead type – heavy single warhead
- warhead mass – 8.8 t
- maximum range – 16,000 km
- thermonuclear charge power – 25 Mt
- accuracy – 1000 m
- control system – inertial autonomous
Earlier www1.ru reported that Russia has begun developing a new generation aircraft.
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