R-31 (missile)

The SS-N -17 Snipe was a submarine -based medium range ballistic missile ( SLBM ) Soviet-made. The GRAU index is D - 11th In the START treaties it is listed as RSM -45. The missile carries the designation R-31 or 3M17.

Development

In 1971, they started in the engine design bureau Makheev system development. The SS-N -17 was introduced in 1980 in the Soviet Navy. The SS-N -17 SLBM was the first of the Soviet Union with solid drive. A planned version with 3-8 MIRV warheads was not realized. Due to the completely unsatisfactory performance of the missile ( range, payload and accuracy ), only one submarine of the Yankee II class was equipped with the system. The boat was equipped with 16 R-31.

Technology

The SS-N -17 was a two-stage solid-fuel rocket. Their control was performed using an inertial navigation platform. It was reached by 1400 m precision (CEP ). The missile could be fired from the surfaced or from the submerged submarine. Was the shooting under water, the rocket was fired at the water surface in an artificially generated Kavitationsgasblase. The rocket motor ignited immediately after breaking through the water surface.

Status

As part of the START 1 agreement, all systems were retired in 1990. The last SS-N -17 was scrapped in 1995.

Swell

• Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces by Frank vonHippel, Pavel Podvig
• Sea-Based Ballistic Missiles from the former Soviet Union DTIG - Defense Threat Information Group, January 2007
• JANE 'S STRATEGIC WEAPON SYSTEMS Edition 1998 Jane's Publishing