R-26 (missile)

R-26
Type	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Production history
Designed	1960-1961
Specifications
Mass	87,000 kg (192,000 lb)
Propellant	Liquid fuel
Operational range	12,000 kilometres (6,500 nmi)
Accuracy	CEP 2,000 metres (6,600 ft)

The R-26 was a second-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) designed but not deployed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Its control system was designed at NPO "Electropribor" (Kharkov, Ukrainian SSR). The missile was mistakenly identified as an R-9 Desna and given the NATO reporting name SS-8 Sasin. Within the Soviet Union, it carried the GRAU index 8K66.

Development

Drawing made by the UK Defence Intelligence from observations and photographs made in a Red Square Military Parade 1964

Montage of a UK Defence Intelligence assessment of the R-26 ICBM.

Design of the R-26 was initiated to develop a light liquid propellant powered ICBM. Designs received approval in 1960, but prior to flight tests were cancelled by the government in 1962.

The missile was revealed during a Red Square parade in November 1964, where it was misidentified as an R-9 Desna. However, the program had already been cancelled and the error was not rectified.

Operators

Soviet Union

The Strategic Rocket Forces were to be the only operator of the R-26, but it was cancelled before entry into service.

See also

• List of missiles

External links

• Astronautix