RT-20P

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	Weapon: RT-20P Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1964 Overall Length (mm): 17800.0 Overall Length (in): 700.79 Weight (kg): 30200.00 Weight (pounds): 66579.6

The RT-20P was an experimental Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed in the 1960s as an early attempt to create a road-mobile, solid-fueled nuclear delivery system. Unlike traditional ICBMs of the era, which relied on fixed silos or cumbersome transportable launch platforms, the RT-20P was designed to be a more flexible and survivable system. It featured a unique hybrid propulsion system, combining a solid-fuel first stage with a liquid-fuel second stage, aiming to provide a balance between rapid deployment and extended range. The missile was housed within a tracked transporter-launcher vehicle based on the T-10 heavy tank chassis, allowing it to operate from dispersed locations.

Despite its ambitious design, the RT-20P never entered full-scale production, with only a handful of prototypes constructed for testing. The system faced numerous challenges, including technical difficulties with the hybrid propulsion system, the complexity of the mobile launcher, and strategic debates within the Soviet military regarding the feasibility of road-mobile ICBMs. The introduction of more advanced and reliable solid-fuel missiles, such as the RT-2, further diminished the viability of the RT-20P program. By the late 1960s, the project was officially canceled before entering active service.

The RT-20P is often regarded as an interesting but ultimately unsuccessful experiment in Soviet missile development. While it never saw operational deployment, the project provided valuable insights into the challenges of designing mobile ICBM systems, influencing later efforts that culminated in the highly successful RT-2PM Topol series. Today, the RT-20P remains a little-known but historically significant example of Cold War-era missile innovation, reflecting the Soviet Union's early attempts to diversify its strategic nuclear forces.