BZhRK Barguzin
The RS-27 (?) or SS-X-32Zh (?) Barguzin BZhRK (БЖРК) Project is a rail-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) under development for the Russian RVSN, as a replacement of the previous railway missile train Molodets BZhRK SS-24 Scalpel. BZhRK stands for railway strategic missile train. The missile was expected to enter testing in 2019 and enter service in 2020.[1]
| Barguzin BZhRK | |
|---|---|
| Type | Intercontinental ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service | In development |
| Used by | Russian Strategic Missile Troops |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology |
| Manufacturer | Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant, KBKhA, CKB Titan |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 45–50 ton per missile |
| Length | 20–30 m |
| Warhead | ≤ 10 to 16, var. TNW (MIRV MaRV HGV other, 6x ≤ 15x yield ≤ 960 kt to 100 kt, 1 - 4 to 8 yield 200 kt to ≤ 1 - 3 Mt each or single RV ≤ 5 - 16+ Mt) |
| Engine | Three-stage solid-fuel rocket or 3rd, 4th (warhead) liquid |
| Propellant | Solid, third or fourth stage – warhead block can be liquid like other ICBM SLBM active or project test other |
Operational range | 12,600 km (7,800 mi) |
Guidance system | Inertial with GLONASS, astrocelestial |
Launch platform | Railway train TEL |
The Barguzin “railroad combat complex,” or BZhRK, will be armed with six RT-## (the missile will be based on Yars, Bulava, RT-23MU, Rubezh Avangard, maybe partially from RT20PUZh, R-39 Rif and R-39M developments) ICBMs, a fifty-five-ton missile that reportedly carries up to 4 nuclear warheads, and is already deployed in fixed silos and mobile truck-mounted launchers. There will be five railroad missile regiments, each consisting of one train and six ballistic missiles. Operational deployment is slated for 2020.[2]
Unlike its decommissioned Soviet counterpart, the RT-23 Molodets (the SS-24 Mod-3 Scalpel), the new train carrying ICBMs will be much lighter, due to the use of the more compact RS-24 Yars ICBM, so that distinguishing it from an ordinary freight train will be impossible.[3]
In December 2017, the Russian state media reported that the project has been frozen due to a lack of financing, saying that the weapon was too expensive. However, the report also states that the project can be quickly revived if necessary.[4][5]
See also
References
- Miyokami, Kyle (27 February 2017). "All Aboard Russia's Nuclear Weapon Apocalypse Train". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017.
A new rail-mounted intercontinental ballistic missile is due to hit Russian railroads in 2020. Russian state media has announced the BZhRK "Barguzin" rail-mounted nuclear missile will begin testing in 2019 and enter service the following year.
- http://nationalinterest.org/blog/russias-nuclear-missile-death-train-arriving-2019-19581
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/rs-24-barguzin.htm
- Птичкин, Сергей (2 December 2017). "Разработка боевых железнодорожных комплексов нового поколения прекращена". rg.ru. Российская газета. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- Beckhusen, Robert (6 December 2017). "Say Goodbye to Russia's Nuclear-Armed Doomsday Train". warisboring.com. War Is Boring. Retrieved 10 December 2017.