The actual adoption of the RS 26 Rubezh (Vanguard) missile by the Russian Army has caused serious concern in the West. It would seem a completely ordinary event. The new strategic carrier enters the troops, the tests have passed, the leaders of interested countries have been informed about them, even American officers are present at the firing. However, claims were immediately declared, which in general terms can be reduced to the fact that this type of weapon belongs to the class of medium or short-range carriers, which violates the terms of the agreement on the RMND of 1987.
International nuclear disarmament treaties
International treaties to limit the number of carriers of nuclear weapons have been concluded many times. During the reign of L. I. Brezhnev, the first attempts were made to reduce the tension between the two superpowers, each of which is capable of repeatedly destroying all life on the planet. Then, during a short period of rapid change of general secretaries, the Soviet foreign policy line hesitated, which could not be said about the American one. Serious concessions from the USSR were achieved only when the young leader M. S. Gorbachev came to power. In 1987, an agreement was signed on the mutual destruction of medium and short-range missile carriers. The situation in the country for the second year of the announced Perestroika was difficult. Many very ordinary goods were lacking today, the arms race was depleting an already poor budget, and a revision of the significance of many historical facts led to a large-scale moral and ethical crisis in Soviet society. It cannot be said that the said agreement was beneficial to the USSR in a geopolitical or strategic aspect, it significantly undermined the country's defense potential, but, in essence, the new head of state had no other choice. And he signed it, perhaps not quite understanding what kind of document he was offered. Today you can understand this issue objectively and calmly.
RMSD
The problem existed for a long time, and consisted in the fact that the nuclear potentials of the USSR and the USA depend not only on the number of carriers, but on one more important parameter, namely, the flight time. If you look at the usual geographic map with the missile bases of the countries of NATO and the USA plotted on it, a completely logical question arises as to the expediency of their existence in such numbers, and even close to our borders. If, as a result of some foreign policy crisis, a decision is made to strike at the modern territory of Russia, there will be very little time for response. Countermeasures could theoretically be oncoming missile launches at bases with launchers. These goals are pretty close. To successfully defeat them, short- or medium-range missiles are required, which are prohibited by the 1987 Treaty of the RMND. But where does the ballistic strategic RS 26? The milestone that they create at our borders is due to the wide range of their radius of destruction.
To what class do the “Frontier” belong?
It may seem to a person far from strategic questions that the further a ballistic missile can fly away, the better. This is not entirely true. This statement is just as incorrect as declaring a sledgehammer good and an ordinary hammer bad. Launching an intercontinental BR for a target located in two hundred, three hundred or even one and a half thousand kilometers is technically impossible. She simply will not be able to reach the desired combat course. Ballistic carriers of a range of over 5,000 km are classified as ICBMs. The entire range from 150 to 5.5 thousand km is considered the average radius. The question arises of which class the RS 26 Rubezh rocket belongs to. Its characteristics are limited both to the maximum (6 thousand km) and to the minimum (2 thousand km). It is able to hit launchers located near Russian borders, and at the same time it can reach objects in the United States or other countries that show a desire to attack the Russian Federation. Supporters of American nuclear dominance really dislike this versatility, and they are calling for the 1987 treaty.
Other rocket information
Not only the unique range of radii of combat use puzzles Pentagon strategists. They see the main problem in the ability of the RS 26 Rubezh to overcome missile defense systems. The missile warhead is divided into four warheads, individually guided and each having its own shunting engine. The competent authorities did not disclose all the details, although they still organize certain “leaks”. The RS 26 Rubezh missile is primarily intended not for direct intended use, it mainly has a psychological effect on the headquarters of potential opponents, and if they do not know about their own vulnerability, then all the efforts spent on its creation will be in vain.
Design
Data on the design of the ICBM RS 26 Rubezh device is extremely sparse in the press. It is known that the total power of the four elements of the warhead is 1.2 megatons (4 x 300 ct). The architecture of the three-stage shell repeats the structure of “Topol” and “Yars”, but its weight is less due to the use of polymer high-strength materials. A fundamentally new control and guidance system has also been announced that works according to a unique algorithm that allows you to evade dangerous objects (anti-missiles) and go on a combat course with a high degree of probability of hitting a target. Individual systems create aperiodic fluctuations in speed and direction, preventing the destruction of the warhead in flight. This algorithm allows her to maintain combat effectiveness, even if 35 anti-missiles are launched to intercept. The energy generated by the engine at startup guarantees access to the combat course, even through a cloud of nuclear explosion. This is impressive.
Materials of manufacture
The increase in payload weight and the high power ratio of the RS 26 Rubezh ballistic missile are due to two factors: a new type of fuel and a special material for the manufacture of stage and fairing housings. A special technology developed at Spetsmash and called “one-piece” was used. It is technologically complex, and the polymer threads, from which, like a cocoon, parts are woven, is a product of a unique organo-chemical production, but in a simplified form it can still be described. A composite polymer thread (aramid fiber) is precision wound onto a special template cylinder or other desired body of revolution . Then these tows are impregnated with a binder. After hardening, a body is obtained that can withstand temperatures of 850 degrees and powerful mechanical stress. The specific gravity of this composite polymer is significantly lower than that of metal.
Fuel
If something is a state secret, it’s the composition of the fuel that the RS 26 Rubezh is charged with. The characteristics of the missile are such that it would be very difficult to intercept it, even if the warheads did not have the ability to maneuver so hard. The main quality of any fuel is determined by the energy that is released by burning a unit of its mass. In addition, the stability of the combustion process is important, regardless of the temperature, barometric or humidity indicators of the environment. Inside the stages of the RS 26 “Rubezh” solid-fuel energy-generating elements based on HMX are placed. They provide a stable projectile flight at very high speeds. The general public knows nothing more. As it should be.
Chassis
The RS 26 Rubezh missile can be based in mines, but its main purpose is to use it in mobile complexes. Initially, it was supposed to use the MZKT-79291 chassis, built according to the 12 x 12 formula, for its transportation. This multi-wheeled vehicle is manufactured in the Republic of Belarus. In favor of this assumption is the fact of the participation of cars in the parade dedicated to the celebration of the 68th anniversary of the Victory. Observers noted new tractors presented as part of the celebration, on which it is quite possible to carry the RS 26 Rubezh. The photos taken in Minsk, however, contradicted the information that the KamAZ-7850 chassis or the Belarusian MZKT-79292 could be used to transport new missiles.
Nevertheless, experts consider the MZKT-79291 multi-wheeled vehicle presented at the parade to be the most likely version, since the MZKT-79292’s carrying capacity is insufficient, and KamAZ, on the contrary, has excess power.
Reasons for Western Concern
Representatives of Western countries were still actively opposed by the RS 24 Yars rocket, for approximately the same reasons as the RS 26 Rubezh rocket. How dangerous is this type of ballistic nuclear-weapon carriers to NATO defense systems? Over the past three decades, according to US congressmen, their country has not experienced a similar threat to national security. And this is not only a shortened guidance section, during which it is practically impossible to take measures to neutralize the warhead. The accuracy of the hit of all four blocks is very high, it is provided by the space astro correction system. In combination with the unlimited ability to overcome the missile defense lines of countries - potential opponents, we can conclude that the costly missile defense systems that our Western "friends" are striving to place as close to the borders of Russia as possible are completely useless. The Rubezh RS-26 missile system was an asymmetric response to attempts to neutralize the Russian nuclear potential by intercepting ICBMs.