R-36 | 8K67 | SS-9

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Origin of the orbital R-36

INSIDER CONTENT

RD-250 engine

The R-36 rocket family

The R-36 family represented the second generation of the intercontinental ballistic missiles, ICBMs, developed in the USSR during the Cold War. It was developed in parallel with the Titan-2 ICBM in the United States.

The heavy-weight R-36 recieved several new and exotic features, such as multiple warheads and decoys, as well as a capability to develop an orbital speed. The latter became a base for the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System, or FOBS, where the warhead and the upper stage of the ICBM would actually enter the orbit around the Earth on its way to a target.

The development of the R-36 was officially authorized on April 16, 1962. (74) The missile was declared operational in 1966 and remained in armaments until 1978.

Specifications of the R-36 family:

-	R-36 (8K67) (with light warhead)	R-36 (8K67) (with heavy warhead)	R-36 (8K69, OR-36, R-36orb)	R-36P (8K67P)
Number of stages	2	2	3	2
Length	34.5 meters	32.2 meters (31.7 meters in some modifications)	32.65 - 34.5 meters	32.2 meters
Diameter	3.05 meters (with protruding elements - 3.6 meters)	3.05 meters (with protruding elements - 3.6 meters)	3.05 meters (with protruding elements - 3.6 meters)	3.05 meters (with protruding elements - 3.6 meters)
Total mass (fueled)	179 -183.89 tons	179 -183.89 tons	181,297 kilograms	183.45 tons
Fuel	UDMH	UDMH	UDMH	UDMH
Oxidizer	Nitrogen tetroxide	Nitrogen tetroxide	Nitrogen tetroxide	Nitrogen tetroxide
Mass of fuel	48.5 tons	48.5 tons	48.5 tons	48.5 tons
Mass of oxidizer	121.7 tons	121.7 tons	121.7 tons	121.7
Flight range	15,200 km	10,200 km	40,000 km	10,200 - 12,000 km
Stage 1
Stage 1 length	18.87 meters	18.87 meters	18.87 meters	18.87 meters
Stage 1 diameter	3.0 meters	3.0 meters	3.0 meters	3.0 meters
Stage 1 propellant mass:	118.9 tons	118.9 tons	118.9 tons	118.9 tons
Stage 1 dry mass	6.4 tons	6.4 tons	6.4 tons	6.4 tons
Stage 1 total mass (fueled)	122.3 tons	122.3 tons	122.3 tons	122.3 tons
1st stage propulsion	3 two-chamber RD-250 engines creating RD-251 (8D723) main engine; 1 four chamber RD-68M steering engine	3 two-chamber RD-250 engines creating RD-251 (8D723) main engine; 1 four chamber RD-68M steering engine	3 two-chamber RD-250 engines creating RD-251 (8D723) main engine; 1 four chamber RD-68M steering engine	3 two-chamber RD-250 engines creating RD-251 (8D723) main engine; 1 four chamber RD-68M steering engine
Stage 2
Stage 2 length	9.4 meters	9.4 meters	10.03 meters	12.9 meters
Stage 2 diameter	3.0 meters	3.0 meters	3.0 meters	2.2 meters
Stage 2 dry mass:	3.7 tons	3.7 tons	3.7 tons	3.7 tons
Stage 2 fueled mass:	49.3 tons	49.3 tons	49.3 tons	57.52 tons
2nd stage propulsion	1 two-chamber RD-252 engine; 1 four-chamber RD-69M engine	1 two-chamber RD-252 engine; 1 four-chamber RD-69M engine	1 two-chamber RD-252 engine; 1 four-chamber RD-69M engine	1 two-chamber RD-252 engine; 1 four-chamber RD-69M engine
Stage 3
Stage 3 (orbital) fueled mass	n/a	n/a	3,648 kg	n/a
Stage 3 (orbital) propellant mass	n/a	n/a	2 tons	n/a
Warhead type	Single 8F675: 8 Megatons	Single 8F675: 20 Megatons	Single 8F021: 5 Megatons (2.3 MT according to 98)	Three 8F676: 2.3 Megatons warheads each;
Warhead mass	3,950 kilograms	5,825 kilograms	1,410-1,700 kg	3 warheads 1,425 kg each;
Decoy mass	272 kilograms	272 kilograms	238 kilograms	401 kilograms

R-36 development team:

Element	Developer	Leading designer	Location
Overall design	OKB-586	M. Yangel	Dnepropetrovsk
Main engine (two stages)	OKB-456	V. Glushko	Moscow
Steering engine (two stages)	OKB-586	M. Yangel	Dnepropetrovsk
The launch complex (surface)	KBTM (PKO-8)	-	Moscow
Control system	NII-885	N. A. Pilugin	Moscow
The launch complex (silo)	KBSM	E. G. Rudyak	-
Thermo-nuclear warhead	VNIIEF	B. V. Litvinov	Chelyabinsk

RD-251/252 engine specifications:

-	RD-251 (1st stage)	RD-252 (2nd stage)
Developer	OKB-456 (Moscow)	OKB-456 (Moscow)
Thrust at the sea level	241 tons	-
Thrust in vacuum	270.4 tons	92 -120 tons
Chamber pressure	85 kg per sq. cm	91 kg per sq. cm
Burn time	120 seconds	160 seconds
Height	2.88 meters	2.168 meters
Diameter	2.52 meters	2.59 meters
Dry mass	1,730 kilograms	715 -725 kilograms

The R-36 family of ballistic missiles (left to right): 8K67, 8K69, 8K67P. Credit: KB Yuzhnoe

The R-36 missile lifts off from the silo complex in Baikonur. Credit: KB Yuzhnoe

The propulsion section of the orbital warhead of the R-36-O missile. Credit: KB Yuzhnoe

The MIRV warhead is being integrated with the R-36P missile in silo complex in Baikonur. Credit: KB Yuzhnoe

The warhead of the R-36 missile. Credit: KB Yuzhnoe