Issues: Nuclear Weapons, Waste & Energy

Table of USSR/Russian ICBM Forces
1960-69 | 1970-79 | 1980-89 | 1990-99 | 2000-2002 | Notes

1. The initial operational capability (IOC) dates vary in different U.S. government sources.

2. At maximum deployment in 1965 there were a total of 197 SS-7s with 128 at soft sites and 69 at hard sites. Some phase out of both began in 1971.

3. Soft site deployment began in November 1963 with hard site deployment beginning in April 1964. At maximum deployment in 1965 there were a total of 23 SS-8s with 14 at soft sites and 9 at hard sites.

4. All 60 SS-13s were deployed at Yoshkar Ola.

5. The 150 SS-17s replaced the SS-11s and were deployed at Kostromo and Yedrovo.

6. At full deployment the 308 SS-18s were deployed at Aleysk (30), Dombarosvki (64), Kartaly (46), and Uzhur (64) in Russia, and Derzhavinsk (52) and Zhangiz-Tobe (52) in Kazakhstan.

7. At full deployment the 360 SS-19s were deployed at Tatischevo (120) and Kozelsk (60) in Russia and Khmelnitski (90) and Pervomaysk (90) in Ukraine.

8. The first few rail-based SS-24 Mod 1s were deployed at Kostromo in December 1987. The first regiment of silo-based SS-24 Mod 2s were operational at Pervomaysk, Ukraine in August 1988, replacing SS-19s. Eventually there would be 46 SS-24 Mod 2s at Pervomaysk, 10 SS-24 Mod 2s at Tatischevo and 12 SS-24 Mod 1s each at Kostromo, Bershet and Krasnoyarsk. Deactivation of the 46 SS-24s in the Ukraine occurred in stages with 20 removed from alert by the end of 1993 and the balance a year later.

9. As of mid-1996 351 SS-25s were deployed at ten bases in Russia: Kansk, Nizhniy Tagil, Novosibirsk, Yurya (45 each); Irkutsk, Teykovo, Yoshkar Ola, Banual (36 each); 18 at Drovyanay and 9 at Vypolzovo. The last SS-25s from Belarus and their warheads were redeployed back to Russia by the end of November 1996.

10. The Mod 1 (12-18 MT) is a single RV. The Mod 2 (18-25 MT) is a single RV. The Mod 3 (2 to 3. 5 MT) is the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS). The Mod 4 (2 to 3.5 MT) carried up to three warheads on multiple reentry vehicle (MRV). The MRV was a precursor to the MIRV, where the warheads could not be independently targetable. Because the area in which the warheads can be targeted is limited many tables count the multiple RVs as one warhead. For purposes of estimating warhead production they should be counted separately.

11. Single reentry vehicle. Mod 1 retired first to compensate for SS-25. All retired by end of 1987. Mod 2 used penetration aids. Mod 3 carried up to three warheads on MRV. Assumes half Mod 2 and half Mod 3 during phaseout.

12. Up to four MIRV warheads on Mods 1 and 3 and a single RV on Mod 2.

13. Single reentry vehicle on Mods 1 and 3. Up to eight MIRV warheads on Mod 2. Up to ten MIRV warheads on Mod 4.

14. Up to six MIRV warheads on Mods 1 and 3. Single reentry vehicle on Mod 2.

15. Up to ten MIRV warheads.

16. Single reentry vehicle.

last revised 11.25.02