The Topol-M is a cold-launched, three-stage, solid-propellant, silo-based or road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.[7] The missile's length is 22.7 m and the first stage has a body diameter of 1.9 m. The mass at launch is 47,200 kg, including the 1,200 kg payload. Topol-M carries a single warhead with an 800 kt yield [1] but the design is compatible with MIRV warheads. According to chief designer Yury Solomonov, the missile can carry four to six warheads along with decoys.[8] Its minimum range is estimated to be 2,000 km and the maximum range 10,500 km.[7] It has three solid rocket stages with inertial, autonomous flight control utilizing an onboard GLONASS receiver.[9][10] It is reputed to have the highest accuracy of any Russian ICBM[11] with a CEP of 200m.[12] The body of the rocket is made by winding carbon fiber.
The Topol-M may be deployed either inside a reinforced missile silo or from an APU launcher mounted on the MZKT-79221 "Universal" 16-wheeled transporter-erector-launcher.[11] This mobile launcher is capable of moving through roadless terrain, and launching a missile from any point along its route. The designation for the silo-based Topol-M missile is believed to be RS-12M2, while the mobile version is RS-12M1.[4]
Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to a regiment of the Strategic Rocket Forces equipped with Topol-M
Combat Support Vehicle (MOBD) 15V231 of Topol/Topol-M at the Saint-Petersburg Artillery Museum
Troposphere Relay Station R-406VCh of Topol/Topol-M at the Saint-Petersburg Artillery Museum
The first stage has rocket motors developed by the Soyuz Federal Center for Dual-Use Technologies. These give the missile a much higher acceleration than other ICBM types. They enable the missile to accelerate to the speed of 7,320 m/s and to travel a flatter trajectory to distances of up to 10,000 km.[2]
As a solid propellant design, the missile can be maintained on alert for prolonged periods of time and can launch within minutes of being given the order.[8]
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