Rocket RS 26 "Rubezh" ("Vanguard"): specifications and photos

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:54

The actual adoption by the Russian Army of the RS 26 "Rubezh" ("Vanguard") rocket caused serious concern in the West. It seemed to be quite an ordinary event. The new strategic carrier is being delivered to the troops, the tests have passed, the leaders of the countries concerned have been informed about them, even American officers are present at the firing. However, claims were immediately made, which in general terms can be reduced to the fact that this type of weapon belongs to the class of medium or short-range carriers, which violates the terms of the 1987 INF Treaty.

International Nuclear Disarmament Treaties

International treaties to limit the number of carriers of nuclear weapons have been concluded many times. During the reign of L. I. Brezhnev, the first attempts were made to reduce the intensity of the confrontation between the two superpowers, each of which is capable of repeatedly destroying all life on the planet. Then, during a short period of rapid change of general secretaries, the Soviet foreign policy line fluctuated, which could not be said aboutAmerican. Serious concessions from the USSR were achieved only when the young leader M. S. Gorbachev came to power. In 1987, an agreement was signed on the mutual destruction of intermediate and short-range missile launchers. The situation in the country in the second year of the announced Perestroika was difficult. There was a shortage of many goods that are common today, the arms race depleted the already poor budget, and the revision of the significance of many historical facts led to a large-scale moral and ethical crisis in Soviet society. It cannot be said that the mentioned treaty was beneficial to the USSR in the geopolitical or strategic aspect, it significantly undermined the country's defense potential, but, in essence, the new head of state had no other choice. And he signed it, perhaps not fully understanding what kind of document he was offered. Today it is possible to sort out this issue objectively and calmly.

RMSD

The problem existed for a long time, and consisted in the fact that the nuclear potentials of the USSR and the USA depend not only on the number of carriers, but on another important parameter, namely the flying time. If you look at an ordinary geographical map with the missile bases of the NATO countries and the United States marked on it, then a completely logical question arises about the expediency of their existence in such numbers, and even close to our borders. If, as a result of some kind of foreign policy crisis, a decision is made to strike at the modern territory of Russia, there will be very little time left for retaliatory actions. Countermeasures can theoreticallybe oncoming missile launches at bases with launchers. These goals are pretty close. To successfully defeat them, short or medium-range missiles are needed, which are prohibited by the 1987 INF Treaty. But where does the ballistic strategic RS 26 have to do with it? The line they create on our borders is due to the wide range of their range.

Which class does Frontier belong to?

To a person who is far from questions of strategy, it may seem that the farther a ballistic missile can fly, the better. This is not entirely true. This statement is as incorrect as declaring a sledgehammer good and an ordinary hammer bad. Launching an intercontinental ballistic missile at a target located 200-300 or even 1500 kilometers away is technically impossible. She simply will not be able to enter the desired combat course. ICBMs include ballistic carriers with a range of over 5,000 km. The entire range from 150 to 5.5 thousand km is considered the average radius. The question arises as to which class the RS-26 Rubezh missile belongs to? Its characteristics are limited both in terms of maximum (6 thousand km) and minimum (2 thousand km). It is able to hit launchers located near Russian borders, and at the same time it can reach objects in the United States or other countries that will show a desire to attack the Russian Federation. This universality is very much disliked by supporters of American nuclear dominance, and they are crying out for the 1987 treaty.

Other information aboutrocket

It's not just the unique range of combat radii that baffles Pentagon strategists. They see the main problem in the ability of the RS 26 "Rubezh" to overcome missile defense systems. The missile warhead is divided into four warheads, which are guided individually and each has its own maneuvering engine. The competent authorities do not disclose all the details, although they still organize certain “leaks”. The RS 26 "Rubezh" missile is primarily not intended for direct use for its intended purpose, it mainly has a psychological impact on the headquarters of potential adversaries, and if they do not know about their own vulnerability, then all the efforts spent on its creation will be in vain.

Design

Data on the device of the RS 26 "Rubezh" ICBM are extremely sparingly covered in the press. It is known that the total yield of the four elements of the warhead is 1.2 megatons (4 x 300 kt). The architecture of the three-stage projectile repeats the structure of the Topol and Yars, but its weight is less due to the use of high-strength polymer materials. A fundamentally new control and guidance system was also announced, which operates according to a unique algorithm that makes it possible to evade dangerous objects (anti-missiles) and enter a combat course with a high degree of probability of hitting a target. Individual systems create aperiodic fluctuations in speed and direction that prevent the warhead from being hit in flight. This algorithm allows it to maintain its combat capability, even if 35 anti-missiles are fired to intercept. Energy,produced by the engine at launch, guarantees access to the combat course even through the cloud of a nuclear explosion. This is impressive.

Materials of production

The increase in payload weight and the high power-to-weight ratio of the RS 26 Rubezh ballistic missile are due to two factors: a new type of fuel and a special material for the manufacture of stage bodies and fairings. A special technology was used, developed at Spetsmash and called "whole-wound". It is technologically complex, and polymer threads, from which parts are woven like a cocoon, is a product of a unique organo-chemical production, but it can still be described in a simplified form. A composite-polymer thread (aramid fiber) is precisely wound onto a special template cylinder or other required body of rotation. Then these tow-threads are impregnated with an astringent agent. After hardening, a body is obtained that can withstand temperatures of 850 degrees and powerful mechanical stress. The specific gravity of this composite polymer is significantly lower than that of metal.

Fuel

If something is a state secret, it is the composition of the fuel used in the RS 26 "Rubezh". The characteristics of the missile are such that it would be very difficult to intercept it, even if the warheads did not have the ability to maneuver so difficult. The main quality of any fuel is determined by the energy that is released during the combustion of a unit of its mass. In addition, the stability of the combustion process is important, regardless of temperature,barometric or humidity indicators of the environment. HMX-based solid fuel energy-releasing elements are placed inside the stages of RS 26 "Rubezh". They provide a stable projectile flight at very high speeds. Nothing else is known to the general public. As it should be.

Chassis

The RS 26 "Rubezh" missile can be based in mines, but its main purpose is to be used in mobile complexes. Initially, it was planned to use the MZKT-79291 chassis, built according to the formula 12 x 12, for its transportation. This multi-wheeled vehicle is manufactured in the Republic of Belarus. This assumption is supported by the fact of the participation of cars in the parade dedicated to the celebration of the 68th anniversary of the Victory. Observers noted the new tractors presented as part of the celebration, on which it is quite possible to carry the RS 26 Rubezh. The photos taken in Minsk, however, contradicted the information that the KamAZ-7850 chassis or the Belarusian MZKT-79292 could be used to transport the new missiles.

Experts still consider the MZKT-79291 multi-wheeler presented at the parade to be the most likely version, since the carrying capacity of the MZKT-79292 is insufficient, and KamAZ, on the contrary, has excess power.

Reasons for Western concern

The RS 24 Yars rocket also raised active objections from representatives of Western countries, for approximately the same reasons as the RS 26 Rubezh. Why is this type of ballistic carriers of nuclear charges dangerous for NATO defense systems? Over the past three decades, according to congressmenThe United States, their country did not experience such a threat to national security. And it's not just the shortened targeting area, during which it is practically impossible to take measures to neutralize the warhead. The accuracy of hitting all four blocks is very high, it is provided by the space astro-correction system. In combination with the unlimited ability to overcome the anti-missile barriers of countries - potential adversaries, one can conclude that the expensive missile defense systems that our Western "friends" seek to place as close as possible to the borders of Russia are completely useless. The Rubezh RS-26 missile system became an asymmetric response to attempts to neutralize the nuclear potential of the Russian Federation by means of intercepting ICBMs.