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Photo: Submarine-based ballistic missiles R-29, R-29R, R-39, ?-29RM, CSS-NX-3, Ju Lang-2.
Moscow and Washington have completely liquidated a class of ballistic missiles, reports US Embassy in Moscow.
Combat Capability [42%],
Role and Missions,
Structure of the Navy,
in-service ships, surface ships, submarines, chronology.
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Russia, USA Liquidated Entire Class of Ballistic Missiles
09/17/2012 |
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According to the embassy website, on Sept 7, 2012 the United States and the Russian Federation have completed liquidation of an entire class of submarine-based ballistic missiles.
The diplomatic mission specified that the question was RSM-52 missiles with up to 100-kiloton yield nuclear warheads. "Seventy eight missiles RSM-52 were dismantled under the 12-year long project, reports Interfax referring to the embassy.
Ballistic missile R-39 (classified as RSM-52 in START agreements, and SS-N-20 Sturgeon in NATO) is designed for destruction of strategic targets at intercontinental distances. Commissioned into Soviet Navy in 1983.
Missiles of this class are carried by Project 941 Akula nuclear-powered strategic submarines in missile system D-19; combat load is 20 missiles.
Akula-class SSBNs are the world's largest nuclear-powered submarines. In accordance with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-2), due to lack of maintenance funding and shutdown of R-39 missiles production, it was decided to dismantle three out of six subs and discontinue construction of the seventh submarine, TK-210.
Submarines TK-202, TK-12 Simbirsk, and TK-13 were utilized. The US financed the dismantling process, including that under the Cooperative Threat Reduction joint Russian-American program.
TK-20 Severstal was decommissioned in 2004. TK-17 Arkhangelsk was mothballed in 2006 due to lack of missiles; her crew was dismissed.
As of today, the only Project 941 submarine in service is TK-208 Dmitry Donskoy which passed modernization under Project 941UM. The sub is used as trial platform for Bulava ballistic missiles.