February
23, 2007: Russia will put seven Topol-M (SS-27) ICBMs into service this year,
making the total on duty so far 55. Four of the new ones will operate from
underground silos, while three will operate from special train cars, and be constantly
moved around on the Russian railroad network.
Some
of the older Topol (SS-25) missiles are already serving in the mobile mode. The
Topol-M is an upgraded Topol. Both are comparable to the American Minuteman
III, and both carry only one warhead, although they could carry as many as six
warheads per missile. The 45 ton SS-25 entered service in 1985, and was so
successful (meaning reliable, partly because it use solid fuel), that work
began on an upgrade. This became the 52 ton Topol-M. All other Russian ICBMs
suffered reliability problems and were more expensive to maintain, largely
because of liquid fuel rocket engines and cranky electronics.
