SS-N-17
Encyclopedia
RSM-45 R-31 was a Soviet SLBM missile.
Development for the missile began in the early 1970s. It was fitted on only one Yankee II class submarine, originally for evaluation purposes. A first test flight took place from the Yankee II Class submarine K-140 (photo) in December 1976. The RS-16 was the first solid-fueled ICBM in the Soviet Union's strategic arsenal. It was a two-stage delivery device armed with a single 500 kt nuclear warhead. A particular practical benefit of the design was the quiet submerged launch system, which used the missile's own buoyancy to lift it to the surface.
The missile entered service in March 1980, but was never installed in any other submarine other than the K-140, and was out of service by 1991. Apparently this missile was also capable of performing the duties of SLCM
s, as the targeting distance could be varied drastically.
Development for the missile began in the early 1970s. It was fitted on only one Yankee II class submarine, originally for evaluation purposes. A first test flight took place from the Yankee II Class submarine K-140 (photo) in December 1976. The RS-16 was the first solid-fueled ICBM in the Soviet Union's strategic arsenal. It was a two-stage delivery device armed with a single 500 kt nuclear warhead. A particular practical benefit of the design was the quiet submerged launch system, which used the missile's own buoyancy to lift it to the surface.
The missile entered service in March 1980, but was never installed in any other submarine other than the K-140, and was out of service by 1991. Apparently this missile was also capable of performing the duties of SLCM
SLCM
Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile or SLCMs are cruise missiles that deliver conventional and/or nuclear payloads and are launched from ships or submarines. Current versions are typically standoff weapons which are used to attack predetermined land targets.Four US Navy ballistic missile submarines ...
s, as the targeting distance could be varied drastically.
Sources
- SS-N-17 at MissileThreat
- MILNET: Strategic Missiles