Ballistic missile is an instrument for maintaining the world balance of power

Intercontinental missiles became a serious stabilizing factor in the most acute moments of the Cold War. Their adoption in service in the early 1950s precluded the possibility of unpunished nuclear bombing of Soviet cities and military industrial centers by American aviation.

The USSR had already had an atomic bomb , but there was a serious problem with its delivery to the target. Copied in the Tupolev Design Bureau B-29 no longer possessed the attack potential, which differed some five years ago, and in the United States all new models of strategic bombers were manufactured: B-47, B-50 ... It was necessary to immediately balance the balance of power. And then at "Uncle Joe", so called Western leaders, appeared, as from a sleeve, a new ace - a ballistic missile.

Is it so suddenly? No, of course, not by accident, but thanks to the hard work of the KB under the leadership of SP. Queen. Of course, many of the achievements of German scientists and engineers involved, and quite successfully, the production of missile technology during the war were taken into account. However, it should be borne in mind that the Americans had these materials, in addition, the general designer himself Werner Von Braun lived in the United States. It did not help, the first long-range ballistic missile was made in the USSR.

Range P1 was modest - only 270 kilometers, but the main barrier was overcome, and now after it in Dnepropetrovsk "Yuzhmash", then another plant with nothing to say number 586, the serial production of P1 and P2 was launched.

The first satellite and astronaut were put into orbit by a carrier, based on an intercontinental ballistic missile R7 capable of overcoming nine and a half kilometers to the goal and delivering a nuclear munition.

Then the arms race began , in which not only the possible range and weight of the charge, and not even the TNT equivalent, but the opportunity to strike with impunity or with minimal losses, were important. The ballistic missile became more perfect, the capabilities of its basing, mobility and the number of parts of the warhead shared.

With the growth of technical and technological capabilities, the tasks of both unimpeded approach to the target and interception were mutually complicated, there were early warning systems for launches, the first massive strike was becoming problematic. Both sides were developing strategic missiles, providing a guaranteed retaliatory strike even in the event of a complete destruction of the control system, and the very number of nuclear ammunition allowed many times to destroy all life on the planet.

Today, when the Cold War is over, the country's security problem remains acute, and the ballistic missile, alas, is still necessary. Modern history clearly demonstrates that countries that have great natural resources, unable to protect themselves, are doomed to a sad fate. Russia continues to improve and strengthen its nuclear shield.

A conventional ballistic missile flies along a given parabolic trajectory, so its path can be calculated with high probability, and, consequently, there is the possibility of destroying the carrier on approach to the target. "Topol M" does not provide a credible adversary the opportunity to hope for success, it is able to pass through missile defense systems, in flight makes maneuvers that can not be foreseen, and then falls on a new combat course.