The second half of the 20th century was marked as the "era of rockets." Today, with their help, astronauts are delivered into orbit, space satellites are launched, and distant planets are being studied. Another area of widespread use of rocket technology has become military affairs. After the invention of nuclear weapons, missiles are considered the most powerful tool of war, capable of immediately destroying several cities and millions of people. Since the use of such weapons does not leave a winner, this was used by the largest world players. They use rocket technology as an effective tool for nuclear deterrence. Russia is considered one of the countries with a powerful nuclear arsenal. Its triad is made up of strategic missile forces .
Today, several divisions of the Strategic Missile Forces are deployed in Russia, one of which is based in the city of Novosibirsk. Information on its combat composition and weapons is presented in the article.
Acquaintance
Strategic Rocket Forces is one of the types of the Armed Forces. Formed in 1959 by order of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Today, the Strategic Missile Forces is a separate branch of the Russian Armed Forces and the main component of its strategic nuclear forces. It reports directly to the General Staff of the Armed Forces. In 1960, the composition of this kind of troops was represented by ten missile divisions. The places of their base were the western parts of the Soviet Union and the Far East. To date, the army of the Strategic Missile Forces consists of 13 missile divisions.
The first artillery reserve unit
According to historians, the 39th Guards Missile Division became one of the very first formations to be adopted during the years of the Great Patriotic Katyusha and participated in the Battle of Stalingrad. It was created in 1942 as the 1st Guards Artillery Reserve Division. In 1960, the unit was reorganized into the 39th missile division of the Order of Lenin, Kutuzov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky. The compound received the 33rd Missile Army.
About the location of the unit
The place for the deployment of military units was the village of Kalininka in the Novosibirsk region. Since the Strategic Missile Forces were armed with solid-fuel and environmentally hazardous second-generation missiles, experts say that a great distance from the city was the ideal place to deploy this unit (military unit 34148).
In 2008, military reform was carried out. The location of the unit was the village of Pashino. This settlement is located near the city of Novosibirsk. 5 thousand people are serving in the military unit . The command is carried out by Major General P.N. Burkov.
About the combat structure
The structure of the military unit of the Strategic Missile Forces (Novosibirsk) is represented by the following sectors:
- 6th site, which is the technical base for military unit 96777, helicopter squadron (military unit 40260) and military units 40260-B and L.
- The 10th platform (303rd communications center (military unit 34148-C), 1756th separate engineer-engineer battalion, (military unit 34485), military unit 34148-G and B).
- 12th platform (357th missile regiment, military unit 54097).
- 13th and 21st sites. The distance between them is not more than thousand meters. They are used for the deployment of the 428th guards (military unit 73727) and 382nd (military units 44238) missile regiments.
- 22nd platform. It is the 1319th mobile command post (military unit 34148).
The 10th site is used as the headquarters of the Strategic Missile Forces (Novosibirsk). 34148 is a military training unit. Recruits dwell on it before taking the oath. The 13th and 21st are distant, since their distance from the headquarters is 40 thousand meters. The military unit 34148 has the shape of a square with an area of 120x120 km.
About destination
The Strategic Missile Forces located in Novosibirsk, like other missile divisions, is in a state of constant combat readiness and primarily performs a protective function. In addition, troops can deliver massive, group or single nuclear missile strikes in one or several directions at once to strategically important targets that make up the enemy’s military and military-economic potential. The arms of the Strategic Missile Forces (Novosibirsk) are represented by Russian ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. Both mobile and mine-based, and the mandatory presence of nuclear warheads may be provided for them.
About PU "Pioneer"
In 1973, design work began on the creation of a solid fuel complex with a medium-range missile. In 1976, the launcher was ready. In the documentation, it is listed as PU RSD-10 "Pioneer".
In 1985, in Novosibirsk the Strategic Missile Forces were equipped with 45 launchers. The complex was operated until 1991. According to the terms of the agreement on the elimination of medium and short-range missiles, signed in 1986 by Soviet and American representatives, part of the "Pioneers" was destroyed in the Chita region.
"Poplar"
In 1975, employees of the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering carried out work on the creation of the RT-2PM Topol strategic ground missile system. Testing the rocket took place in 1982. The complex was completely ready for operation in 1987. In December 1988, adopted by the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces. The total number of complexes at that time did not exceed 72 units. By 1993, the number of “Topol” was increased to 369. According to military experts, the number of RT-2PM occupies almost 50% of Russia's total strategic nuclear weapons. Strategic Missile Forces in Novosibirsk is considered one of the first missile divisions to receive this complex. In 1995, their number in the 39-missile division was 45 units. On the territory of military unit 34148, the distance between deployed complexes varied within 20-50 thousand meters. The Topol launcher could be mounted on the MAZ-7912 semi-axle chassis. This positively affected the possibility of rapid mass deployment of systems, which ensured the survivability of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces during an enemy nuclear attack.
If in Soviet times the main emphasis was placed on powerful protection against mine-based complexes dispersed over a large area, then in the 90s mobile installations provided security. Unlike mine-based missile systems, the enemy could not take their places of deployment mobile. Military experts assumed that if the enemy carried out a sudden nuclear strike, then due to the presence of mobile Topol, Russia would be able to maintain 60% of its nuclear potential and strike back.
RS-24 "Yars"
After the signing of the Soviet-American treaty, Topol was modernized. The work was carried out by employees of the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering. The leadership was headed by Academician Yu. S. Solomonov. As a result, in 2009 the strike group of the Strategic Missile Forces of Russia was replenished with a new complex, which is listed as the RS-24 Yars.
A solid propellant intercontinental ballistic missile with a mobile and mine base is provided for it. In 2012, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation decided to rearm the missile systems in Novosibirsk and Kozelsk with RS-24 mine-based. Work continued during 2013.
About the combat capabilities of the RS-24
In October 2013, 8 Yars were delivered to Novosibirsk. RS-24, according to military experts, today is the most advanced missile system. The transition to Yars is gradually taking place in many divisions of the Strategic Missile Forces of Russia. The missile launched from the RS-24 is capable of overcoming 11 thousand km and bypassing any air defense equipment in the world. During the detonation of one rocket, 4 explosions occur. To date, most of the information about the tactical and technical characteristics of the RS-24 is classified. It is known that the main feature of the Yars is high mobility. The missile is equipped with a separable warhead. The warhead itself is equipped with four nuclear warheads with a capacity of 300 kilotons. In 2013, the media reported the arrival of 8 mobile missile systems in Novosibirsk. Prior to this event, 200 retraining courses were taken by 200 contract officers at a special training center in Arkhangelsk.
About the stages of training
Retraining begins with the development of the theory of the structure of the missile system. At this stage, training takes place on the basis of military units. Then the servicemen are sent to a special training center, the base of which became the Plesetsk cosmodrome. According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense, retraining in missile regiments is nearing completion. The third stage is considered practical. It is intended for military personnel who have been granted access to combat duty and to control a rocket launcher.
About combat duty
Three people are on duty: the driver, operator and commander. Their task is to bring the rocket launcher to full alert and deliver to the previously designated square. The second stage is a nuclear strike with warheads already aimed at the target. To do this, just click on the special button. Since the rocket launcher is a large-sized equipment, during its squaring into the square, the military has to block the routes, which causes discontent among the local civilian population.
Finally
According to rocket specialists, the presence of nuclear warheads does not threaten the Siberians at all. The detonation of “Yars” is minimized. Local residents understand that the RS-24 was created for their safety, and are already used to spending their days next to nuclear weapons.