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National Air Intelligence Center NAIC-1031-0985-98

ICBMs

Most Russian and some Chinese ICBMs are capable of reaching targets throughout the United States. Russia retains thousands of nuclear warheads on ICBMs, while China has a relatively small force of ICBMs that carry single, high-yield nuclear warheads. In addition, Russia has a new ICBM in development, and China is developing two new ICBM systems.

Although the size of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces will continue to decline as a result of arms control treaties, aging missiles, and economic difficulties, Russia probably will retain the largest force of land-based strategic missiles in the world. Russia continues to invest heavily in its strategic missile force, and most of its ICBMs are still on alert, capable of being launched within minutes of receiving a launch order. The ICBM force will be modernized with the addition of the SS-X-27. The first silo-based SS-X-27 was recently deployed, and SS-X-27 missiles will later be deployed on road-mobile launchers.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START I) treaty, which entered into force in December 1994, limits the United States and Russia to no more than 6,000 warheads each (including those on ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers) by December 2001. START I reductions have already resulted in a significantly smaller strategic missile force. If the START II treaty is ratified by the Russian Duma and the New York Protocols are ratified by the Duma and the US Senate, ICBMs with MIRV payloads will be banned after 2007.

There are 360 SS-25 missiles currently deployed, more than any other type of foreign ICBM. The SS-25 is launched from a canister carried on a seven-axle transporter-erector-launcher. SS-27 Road Mobile Launcher

SS-25 Launch Sequence SS-25 Launch Sequence SS-25 Launch Sequence
SS-25 Launch Sequence SS-25 Launch Sequence SS-25 Launch Sequence

SS-24 Rail-Mobile Launcher SS-18 Mod 4 SS-18 Mod 5 CSS-3 CSS-4

ICBM Characteristics
Missile Country No. of
Stages 		Warheads per Missile Booster
Propellant 		Deployment
Mode 		Maximum
Range*
(miles) 		No. of
Launchers*
SS-18 Mod 4 Russia 2 + PBV 10 Liquid Silo 5,500+ 180 (total for
Mods 4 and 5)
SS-18 Mod 5 Russia 2 + PBV 10 Liquid Silo 6,000+
SS-19 Mod 3 Russia 2 + PBV 6 Liquid Silo 5,500+ 168
SS-24 Mod 1 Russia 3 + PBV 10 Solid Rail-mobile 5,500+ 36
SS-24 Mod 2 Russia 3 + PBV 10 Solid Silo 5,500+ 10
SS-25 Russia 3 + PBV 1 Solid Road-mobile 7,000+ 360
SS-X-27 Russia 3 + PBV 1 Solid Silo and
road-mobile 		7,000+ 2
CSS-3 China 2 1 Liquid Silo and
transportable 		3,400+ Fewer than 25
CSS-4 Mod 1 China 2 1 Liquid Silo 8,000+ Fewer than 25 (total
for Mods 1 and 2)
CSS-4 Mod 2 China 2 1 Liquid Silo 8,000+
DF-31** China 3 1 Solid Road-mobile 4,500+ Not yet deployed
New ICBM** China 3 1 Solid Mobile 7,000+ Not yet deployed
* These estimates do not include range extension from the PBV; some PBVs provide substantial range extension
** Missile has not vet been flight-tested.

Note: All ranges are approximate.


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National Air Intelligence Center NAIC-1031-0985-98