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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Rooskies test Topol missile
2008-08-29
RUSSIA last night provoked fresh fears of a Cold War by boasting it has tested a new long-range nuclear missile. MoscowÂ’s military chiefs revealed their Topol intercontinental stealth rocket had been fired successfully.

The chilling declaration was aimed at sparking international alarm about the conflict in the Caucasus, diplomats claimed. Foreign Secretary David Miliband tried to calm the crisis by saying no country wants “all-out war” with Russia. But he admitted the invasion of Georgia has brought an end to peace in Europe.

Russia’s Interfax agency said: “The experimental warhead section of the rocket hit its pre-determined target with high accuracy at the firing range.”

The RS-12M Topol, designed to dodge defence systems, has a range of 6,125 miles — enough to reach Britain — with a 550-kiloton warhead capable of devastating a 14-mile wide area. It was launched from the spaceport at Plesetsk to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East.
Posted by:Steve White

#7  Topol?

Posted by: OldSpook   2008-08-29 12:11  

#6  Nuclear Weapon Effects Calculator
Posted by: john frum   2008-08-29 11:20  

#5  "capable of devastating a 14-mile wide area"

Is this true? Seems that 14 miles is a bit of an overstatement for a weapon of that yield. Can the resident experts offer clarity?
Posted by: mjhlaw   2008-08-29 09:23  

#4  John,

You know, you are right - I did confuse the two. This is what happens when you try to do military analysis BEFORE you finish your coffee. Thanks.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2008-08-29 07:14  

#3  The return of STALIN indeed.


Posted by: Slats Glans2659   2008-08-29 07:03  

#2  I think you mean the Bulava SLBM. This is the Topol-M ICBM.

video

The Topol-M has been tested a number of times. They are two or three deployed regiments.

This would appear to be a test of the Igla renetry vehicle for the Topol-M

2005 report in Washington Times


The missile booster fired for a shorter-than-usual duration in placing the dummy warhead and re-entry vehicle into space. The warhead then dropped down to a lower trajectory and was able to maneuver.

U.S. officials confirmed some characteristics of the new missile warhead based on an analysis of the Nov. 1 flight test, which was first reported earlier this month by several Russian news organizations.

Unlike current ballistic warheads that do not alter their flight paths sharply once they reach space, the new warhead can change course and range while traveling at speeds estimated at about 3 miles per second, the officials said.
Posted by: john frum   2008-08-29 06:55  

#1  ...Would this be the same Topol that they've successfully test-fired - IIRC - once , and now suddenly it works like a charm?
Can probably find it in the bargain aisle, right next to the Iranian 300 mph torpedo.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2008-08-29 06:37  

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