RS-26 Rubezh SS-X-31.

Technical Data

• Launcher Vehicle

  The RS-26 is launched from a highly mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) unit, based on the 16-wheel MZKT-79291 truck chassis. This TEL provides road mobility and off-road capability, allowing the missile to be deployed from remote or improvised locations, complicating enemy detection and preemptive strikes.

  The TEL system supports a cold-launch method, where pressurized gas ejects the missile from its canister before the first-stage motor ignites. This technique reduces wear on the launcher and minimizes the risk of launch-site detection. Additionally, the TEL is equipped with advanced hydraulics for stabilization and precise alignment of the missile before launch, ensuring accurate trajectory initiation. The system also integrates secure communications and command links with Russia’s Strategic Rocket Forces, enabling coordinated fire missions.

• Missile Description

  RS-26 missile weighs approximately 36,000 kilograms and features a three-stage solid-fuel design optimized for range, speed, and versatility. It is equipped with a thermonuclear payload that can be configured as either MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles) or MaRVs (Maneuverable Reentry Vehicles), allowing it to strike multiple targets or evade defenses with unprecedented precision. Each warhead has an estimated yield of 150 to 300 kilotons, providing extensive destructive power capable of neutralizing hardened military installations or large urban centers.

  A standout capability of the RS-26 is its ability to carry the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, an advanced payload designed to revolutionize strategic missile effectiveness. The Avangard is a maneuverable hypersonic warhead capable of achieving speeds exceeding Mach 27 (approximately 33,000 km/h). Unlike traditional ballistic missile warheads, which follow predictable, parabolic trajectories, the Avangard can glide within the atmosphere, executing evasive maneuvers to avoid detection and interception by advanced missile defense systems.

  The Avangard’s high speed and atmospheric maneuverability make it nearly impervious to existing missile defense networks, including terminal-phase interceptors and space-based tracking systems. Additionally, its extreme velocity delivers massive kinetic energy on impact, amplifying its destructive potential. The integration of such a cutting-edge hypersonic vehicle with the RS-26 platform enhances the missile’s strategic versatility, making it a critical component of Russia’s nuclear deterrence strategy.

• Engine Missile

  The RS-26 is powered by a sophisticated three-stage solid-propellant engine. The first stage delivers a high-thrust boost, propelling the missile out of the atmosphere and minimizing its exposure to early-stage interception attempts. The second stage sustains acceleration, optimizing the missile’s trajectory for long-range flight and maintaining speed to avoid mid-course interception.

  The third stage plays a critical role in terminal maneuverability. Unlike conventional solid-fuel systems, the RS-26’s terminal stage may incorporate a liquid-fueled component, particularly when equipped with maneuverable warheads or the Avangard glide vehicle. This configuration provides enhanced control during the reentry phase, allowing the missile to adjust its trajectory to evade advanced missile defense systems and achieve high accuracy.

  The missile’s propulsion system enables a demonstrated range of approximately 5,800 kilometers. Its terminal speed exceeds Mach 20, translating to over 24,500 kilometers per hour. This extraordinary speed, combined with its maneuverable payload options, ensures the RS-26’s effectiveness in penetrating heavily defended airspace.

• Combat Use

  The RS-26 Rubezh is designed for both strategic nuclear deterrence and high-precision strikes on critical infrastructure and hardened military targets. Its road-mobile platform allows it to be deployed rapidly and unpredictably, significantly complicating adversary targeting efforts.

  With a maximum range of approximately 5,800 kilometers, the RS-26 can target locations across Europe, Asia, and parts of North America. The missile’s MIRV capabilities make it effective against multiple targets in a single mission, while its advanced counter-defense measures and optional Avangard glide vehicle payload enable it to defeat even the most sophisticated missile defense systems.

  The RS-26’s primary missions in combat scenarios include targeting enemy command centers, missile defense networks, and critical infrastructure. Its operational versatility and survivability make it a formidable asset in modern strategic warfare.