SS-24 Scalpel (RT-23 Molodets) Country: Russia Type: ICBM Introduction: 1987

SS-24 Scalpel (NATO reporting name) or RT-23 Molodets is a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The missile was the culmination of a major Soviet effort to develop a medium solid-fueled missile with multiple basing modes: silo-based and rail-based versions were deployed, and a road-mobile version was considered but rejected. This made for a much more survivable ICBM, as the rail-based missiles could move around the rail network and thus be difficult to detect and track. The new missile was to replace the older liquid-fueled SS-19 missiles which were entirely silo-based. Its US counterpart was the MX (Peacekeeper) missile.

The missile began to be deployed in 1987. Its production facilities were located in Ukraine. After the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, production of the missile came to an end. A typical set of missile launch trains were comprised of three locomotives, followed by generating power car, command car, support car, and three missile launch vehicles. The frontmost locomotive is driven by three officers, and the two other engines right behind the front locomotive are driven by two enlisted personnel each. The type of the engine is M62, which is a standard diesel locomotive of the East Europe at the time of its formation. The missile lanucher has a shape of a refrigerator car, and the service cars were converted from passenger carriages.

Just before the breakup of the USSR, 92 missiles were operational, 56 based in stationary silos and 36 rail-based. The 36 silo-based missiles located in Ukraine were deactivated by mid 1996, disassembled and put into storage awaiting decision on a feasible disposition method, but the 56 missiles in Russia remained in service. The missile was to be banned under the provisions of START II, but that treaty was never ratified. The 10 silo-based missiles in Russia were deactivated around 2000. After 2000 the rail-based missiles were also gradually withdrawn from service, with the remaining 15 decommissioned in August, 2005. Elimination of the last SS-24 ICBM in Russia is scheduled for April, 2008.

General Information
Developed by	Russia
Deployed by	Russia
Development Year	1979 (Mod 0), 1983 (Mod 1)
Deployment Year	1987 (Mod 0), 1989 (Mod 1/2)
Platform	rail-mobile (Mod 1), silo (Mod 2)
Launcher	launch silo complex (15P961) (silo-based), Launch canister: 22.6m long, 2.7m diameter (silo-based), 23.6m long, 5m height, 3.2m width (rail-launch-vehicle)
Number deployed	46 (10 in silos, 36 on rail: as of end of 1998)
Design	Yangel/Utkin Design Bureau (OKB-586)
Manufacturer	Yuzhnoye NPO, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, Pavlograd, Ukraine

Dimensions and Performance
Length	22.6m (Mod 1), 22.4m (Mod 2) with container
Body Diameter	2.4m (each stage)
Launch Weight	104,500kg
Range	10,100km (Mod 1), 10,450km(Mod 2)
Accuracy	500m CEP

Components
Propulsion	3-stage solid-fuel rocket motor with BUS
Engine	15D305 (1st stage), 15D339(2nd stage), RD-866 (3rd stage)
Payload	10 x RVs(MIRV) 4,050kg
Warhead	10 x 550kT nuclear warheads
Guidance	inertial