Successfully carried out the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, northwest of Russia. This is what the Russian Ministry of Defense communicates.
The test was carried out to verify the technical characteristics of the system Topol-M (SS-27 Sickle-B). The autonomous inertial-type guided missile, would have shown high precision and, overall, good performance, hitting the designated target on the firing range in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.
The usual three-stage Topol propellant missile would be immune to Missile Shield American (ABM), thanks to its ability to make sharp turns, release false targets as well as complete shielding against any type of attack emp o laser. The only possibility to bring it down would be in the boost phase (Boost Phase): task that would be the responsibility of interceptors based in Poland.
Most likely the Topol, with its 10 thousand km range, it could hit any part of the United States with impunity. Its probability of circular error is estimated in 350 meters: it carries a single warhead with a maximum yield of 550 kilotons. The Topol was designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, to be easily converted for the maximum transport of six Mirv warheads. Unlike its US counterpart, the Topol it can be launched either from mobile ramps or from silos.
There will be sixteen intercontinental ballistic missiles launched by the end of the year. The exercises will involve all the 40 missile regiments currently in service. Russia currently has 326 intercontinental ballistic missiles with about 1.050 warheads ready to launch (Mirv-Marv).
The Ministry of Defense has already announced the withdrawal of almost all the now obsolete Icbm like the SS-18 Satan, SS-19 Stiletto and SS-25 Sickle (Topol) to replace them with SS- 27 Sickle-B (Topol-M) and RS-24 yars by 2021.
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
