Heavy ICBM is a term that was created in the 1970s to describe a class of Soviet and Russian ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles). They were characterized by a heavy throw-weight of 60 to 90 metric tons, several times that of an LGM-30 Minuteman, and a length of over 35 meters, and were thus capable of delivering a large number of warheads in a single MIRV missile.

This term usually refers to R-36 / "SS-9 Scarp", R-36M (SS-18) variants / "SS-18 Satan", and the RS-28 Sarmat / "SS-X-32 SNOWFLAKE" missiles.

Heavy ICBM

RS-28 Sarmat is called a "superheavy" ICBM. Superheavy ICBMs date back to the UR-500 which was designed to deliver the 50 megaton (potentially, 100 megaton) Tsar Bomba warhead. The UR-500 was developed into the Proton which successfully launched the first living beings to orbit the Moon and return safely, on Zond 5.

Heavy ICBM

Deliveries

The SS-9 was a silo-launched missile capable of delivering warheads of 5–18 megatons, with a range of up to 15,500 km. These were then replaced by the similar SS-18, with payloads of 18–25 megatons. The silos used for launching were the same for both, once modified.

Heavy ICBM

References

Ballistic missiles of the Soviet Union

1970s in the Soviet Union