SS25

SS-25 is the NATO designation for a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile system associated with the Topol-M family. In Russia the missile is designated RT-2PM2 Topol-M and is part of the country’s strategic forces. Development began in the late 1980s as a modern successor to earlier RT-2PM designs, with the goal of improving survivability and accuracy through mobile basing and advanced guidance. The SS-25 family includes road-mobile configurations as well as silo-based variants, designed to complicate first-strike targeting and adapt to changing strategic requirements. The weapon uses solid-fuel propulsion and a contemporary navigation system, enabling long-range capability and rapid launch after alert.

In service since the 1990s, SS-25 missiles have undergone modernization programs to extend service life, upgrade electronics and propulsion, and maintain compatibility with evolving defense environments. The system remains a component of Russia’s strategic deterrent alongside other missile families, with ongoing evaluations and force-renewal efforts.

Notes: The public record often uses SS-25 to refer to the Topol-M family; details about exact warhead configurations and total deployed numbers are subject to defense assessments and secrecy.

See also: Topol-M, RT-2PM2, RS-26, Strategic Missile Forces.