The Soviet R-12 missile
 
Norbert Brügge, Germany

Update: 19.10.2009
   
  R-12
Length total  22.59 m
Length without control unit/ warhead  18.50 m
Diameter  1.65 m
Propellant  TM-185/AK-275H
Mass propellant (t)  36.365
Engine

 RD-214
Thrust s.l. (kN)  635.5
Thrust vac (kN)  730.2
Isp s.l. (Ns/kg)  2254
Isp vac Ns/kg)  2589
Burn time, nominal (sec)  129
Total vacuum impulse (MNs)  94.1


The R-12 was the first operationally effective intermediate range ballistic missile, the first Soviet missile deployed with a thermonuclear warhead, and the first mass-produced missile in history. 2,300 of the storable propellant rockets were built and deployed in both mobile and silo-based versions for thirty years, from March 1959 to June 1989.
A light orbital launch vehicle, the 11K63 Kosmos-2, was developed from the R-12. This launcher used a new second stage to reach orbital velocity.
Special launches of this Kosmos-2 were made to test subscale versions of the Raketoplan and BOR series of spaceplanes.
Special launches of R-12's were used for sounding missions (Vertikal).
According to international contract the R-12 missiles were withdrawn from service in June 1989 and destroyed. The final R-12 was destroyed on 23 May 1990.
However the R-12 story was not quite over. It was reported in January 1998 that the R-12 design had been sold to Iran.

The development of the R-12 was begun in 1955, and was carried out by Yangel's OKB-586. The first tests were conducted at the test site in Kapustin Yar between 1957 and 1958.
In the first time was planned to use a RD-211 engine for the R-12. Engine designer Glushko had designed the RD-211 with four combustion chamber / nozzle assemblies. Each was double the thrust of the V-2-based RD-100 engine, but all four were fed by common turbopumps. Initial tests of the new-design cylindrical combustion chamber showed good results. The RD-211 was underpowered however. So the design was abandoned. It was developed a new design of the RD-211 with 22% more thrust. This design resulted in the RD-214 engine. The development of the RD-214 began in 1955.
Yangel was also committed to providing the R-12 with the Soviet Union's first autonomous inertial navigation system. The inertial navigation system planned for the R-12 was tested on R-5M missiles before the R-12 began its flight tests.
Mass production was undertaken beginning in 1958. Production finally was completed at Perm in 1967, with 2,300 of the missile being built.
Compared to earlier missiles the R-12 differed in having the 430 kg inertial guidance system located in the intertank section between the fuel and oxidiser tanks. The oxidiser was AK-275H (27.5% N2O4 and 72.5% Nitric Acid) and the fuel TM-185 in two separate tanks (Polymer Distillate + Light Oil Pyrolyse). The oxidiser was pressurised by gaseous oxygen, the fuel by air. Following burn-out of the single-stage rocket, explosive bolts separated the warhead and it was ejected pneumatically from the missile.


     


  


  


    









Rear


       
Engine RD-214



Turbine
  

R-12 sounding rockets



Sounding rocket "Vertikal-4"