UR-200

UR-200 is a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile developed by the Vladimir Chelomey-led OKB-52 design bureau, with the participation of Nikolai Pilyugin's NII-885 and Alexei Bogomolov's NII-944. The UR-200 was designed to be a competitor to the R-36 missile developed by Mikhail Yangel's OKB-586. The development of the UR-200 was influenced by the Soviet space program, with the Luna programme and the Vostok programme providing valuable experience and technologies. The UR-200 was also related to the Proton rocket family, which was used for various Soviet space program missions, including the Zond program and the Luna programme.

Introduction

The UR-200 was a significant development in the Soviet Union's intercontinental ballistic missile program, with the participation of prominent scientists and engineers, including Sergei Korolev, Valentin Glushko, and Nikolai Kuznetsov. The UR-200 was designed to be a reliable and efficient missile, with a range of over 12,000 kilometers, making it capable of reaching targets in the United States and other parts of the world. The development of the UR-200 was also influenced by the Cold War, with the Soviet Union seeking to develop a missile that could counter the United States' Minuteman and Titan II missiles. The UR-200 was related to other Soviet missiles, including the R-7 rocket family, which was used for various Soviet space program missions, including the Sputnik programme and the Vostok programme.

Design and Development

The design and development of the UR-200 involved the collaboration of several prominent Soviet Union design bureaus, including OKB-52, NII-885, and NII-944. The UR-200 was designed to be a two-stage missile, with a liquid-fuel rocket engine developed by Valentin Glushko's OKB-456. The missile's guidance system was developed by Nikolai Pilyugin's NII-885, with the participation of Sergei Korolev's OKB-1. The UR-200 was also influenced by the Proton rocket family, which was used for various Soviet space program missions, including the Zond program and the Luna programme. The development of the UR-200 was related to other Soviet space programs, including the Vostok programme and the Soyuz programme, which were led by Sergei Korolev and involved the participation of Alexei Leonov and Pavel Belyayev.

Operational History

The UR-200 was first tested in 1963, with the participation of Baikonur Cosmodrome and the Kapustin Yar test range. The missile was deployed in 1964, with the Strategic Missile Troops of the Soviet Union being the primary operator. The UR-200 was used in several military exercises, including the Operation Kaman exercise, which involved the participation of Andrei Grechko and Nikolai Ogarkov. The UR-200 was also related to other Soviet military operations, including the Soviet–Afghan War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, which involved the participation of Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro. The UR-200 was decommissioned in 1991, with the Strategic Missile Troops of the Soviet Union being disbanded.

Specifications

The UR-200 had a range of over 12,000 kilometers, making it capable of reaching targets in the United States and other parts of the world. The missile had a payload capacity of up to 3.5 tons, making it capable of carrying a variety of warheads, including nuclear warheads developed by Arzamas-16 and Chelyabinsk-70. The UR-200 was powered by a liquid-fuel rocket engine developed by Valentin Glushko's OKB-456, with a thrust of up to 2.1 million Newtons. The missile's guidance system was developed by Nikolai Pilyugin's NII-885, with the participation of Sergei Korolev's OKB-1. The UR-200 was related to other Soviet missiles, including the R-7 rocket family and the Proton rocket family, which were used for various Soviet space program missions.

Variants

The UR-200 had several variants, including the UR-200A and the UR-200B, which were developed by OKB-52 and NII-885. The UR-200A was a modified version of the UR-200, with a range of up to 13,000 kilometers and a payload capacity of up to 4 tons. The UR-200B was a further modification of the UR-200A, with a range of up to 14,000 kilometers and a payload capacity of up to 5 tons. The UR-200 was also related to other Soviet missiles, including the R-36 and the RT-2, which were developed by Mikhail Yangel's OKB-586 and Alexander Nadiradze's OKB-52. The UR-200 was influenced by the Soviet space program, with the Luna programme and the Vostok programme providing valuable experience and technologies. Category:Ballistic missiles