R-39 Rif

An intercontinental missile, the R-39 had a three-stage solid-fuel boost design with a liquid-fuel post-boost unit carrying up to ten multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle warheads. Like other SLBMs the initial launch was powered by a gas generator in the bottom of the firing tube. During the missile's passage through the water additional motors produce a gaseous wall around the missile, reducing hydrodynamic resistance. The launch system was designated "D-19".

• Is Missile — yes • Name — R-39 • Origin — Soviet Union • Type — SLBM • Vehicle Range — 8300 km • Filling — 10 MIRV thermonuclear • Yield — 100–200 kt each • Engine — Three-stage Solid-fuel rocket • Guidance — Astro-inertial guidance • Accuracy — 500 m CEP • Length — 16.1 m (8.4 m without warhead) • Diameter — 2.4 m • Weight — 84 t • Payload Capacity — 2,550 kg • Designer — Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau • Manufacturer — Zlatoust Machine-Building Plant • Service — 1983–2004 • Used By — Soviet Navy Russian Navy • Illustration — Submarine-based missiles: R-29, R-29R, R-39, R-29RМ, CSS-NX-3, JL-2

Development work began at NII Mashinostroyeniya in 1971 and the design gained official approval in 1973. Initial test flights from 1979 found problems in the solid-fuel boost engines, over half of the early flights failed. Later tests aboard a modified Typhoon-class submarine were more successful and deployment began in May 1983, with 20 missiles in each submarine. At full deployment, 120 missiles were deployed with 1,200 total warheads. Under the terms of the START I and START II treaties, from 1996 a number of R-39 missiles were destroyed. Throughout the 1990s, Typhoon class submarines and the R-39 missiles they carried were gradually withdrawn from service. All the missiles were decommissioned by 2004 and all the Typhoon class submarines have been retired. A successor design, R-39M Grom (Thunder)/RSM-52V/SS-N-28 for D-19UTTKh launch system, suffered a succession of testing failures and was cancelled.

• Russian Navy; • Soviet Navy