UR-100

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	Weapon: UR-100 Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1966 Overall Length (mm): 16900.0 Overall Length (in): 665.35 Weight (kg): 40300.00 Weight (pounds): 88846.29

The UR-100 was a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed in the 1960s as a cost-effective and easily deployable strategic weapon. Designed by the OKB-52 design bureau under Vladimir Chelomey, the missile was conceived as a lightweight, silo-based system that could be produced and deployed in large numbers. The UR-100 featured a two-stage liquid-fueled propulsion system and carried a single nuclear warhead with a yield of up to 1 megaton. Its relatively compact size allowed for the rapid construction of hardened silos, making it a key component of the Soviet Union's nuclear deterrent strategy.

Production of the UR-100 began in the late 1960s, with approximately 1,000 missiles deployed at the height of its service. The missile was stationed in hardened silos across the Soviet Union, providing a second-strike capability in the event of a nuclear conflict. Its simplicity and mass deployment made it an effective counterbalance to the U.S. Minuteman ICBM program. Several improved variants, such as the UR-100N and UR-100NUTTH, were later introduced, featuring increased range, multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), and enhanced countermeasures against missile defense systems.

The UR-100 remained in service for several decades, with newer variants continuing to be operational into the 21st century. The missile played a crucial role in the Cold War nuclear arms race, demonstrating the Soviet Union's ability to field a large and survivable ICBM force. Though the original UR-100 was eventually phased out, its legacy influenced the design of later Russian strategic missiles, including the RS-28 Sarmat. Today, the UR-100 is remembered as one of the most significant Soviet ICBMs, embodying the doctrine of overwhelming force through mass deployment.