The RS-27 (?) or SS-X-32Zh (?) Barguzin BZhRK (БЖРК) Project is a rail-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) under development for the Russian RVSN, as a replacement of the previous railway missile train Molodets BZhRK SS-24 Scalpel. BZhRK stands for railway strategic missile train. The missile was expected to enter testing in 2019 and enter service in 2020.[1]
The Barguzin “railroad combat complex", or BZhRK, will be armed with six RT-## (the missile will be based on Yars, Bulava, RT-23MU, Rubezh Avangard, maybe partially from RT20PUZh, R-39 Rif and R-39M developments) ICBMs, a fifty-five-ton missile that reportedly carries up to 4 nuclear warheads, and is already deployed in fixed silos and mobile truck-mounted launchers. There will be five railroad missile regiments, each consisting of one train and six ballistic missiles. Operational deployment is slated for 2020.[2]
Unlike its decommissioned Soviet counterpart, the RT-23 Molodets (the SS-24 Mod-3 Scalpel), the new train carrying ICBMs will be much lighter, due to the use of the more compact RS-24 Yars ICBM, so that distinguishing it from an ordinary freight train will be impossible.[3]
In December 2017, the Russian state media reported that the project has been frozen due to a lack of financing, saying that the weapon was too expensive. However, the report also states that the project can be quickly revived if necessary.[4][5]
See also
- Strategic Missile Troops
- RT-23 Molodets
- RS-24 Yars
- RS-26 Rubezh
- RS-28 Sarmat
- R-36 (missile)
- UR-100N
- RT-2PM Topol
- RT-2PM2 Topol-M
- Agni-VI
- Peacekeeper Rail Garrison Car
- LGM-30 Minuteman
- DF-5
- DF-41
References
- ^ Miyokami, Kyle (27 February 2017). "All Aboard Russia's Nuclear Weapon Apocalypse Train". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017.
A new rail-mounted intercontinental ballistic missile is due to hit Russian railroads in 2020. Russian state media has announced the BZhRK "Barguzin" rail-mounted nuclear missile will begin testing in 2019 and enter service the following year.
- ^ "Russia's Nuclear Missile 'Death Train' Arriving in 2019". 26 February 2017.
- ^ "RS-24 / SS-32 / Barguzin New Rail-Mobile ICBM".
- ^ Птичкин, Сергей (2 December 2017). "Разработка боевых железнодорожных комплексов нового поколения прекращена". Российская Газета. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- ^ Beckhusen, Robert (6 December 2017). "Say Goodbye to Russia's Nuclear-Armed Doomsday Train". warisboring.com. War Is Boring. Retrieved 10 December 2017.