Missile R-29RM Shtil (SS-N-23 Skiff)

Development of the R-29RM began in 1979. The weapon system entered service in 1986 and was integrated into the D-9RM launch system on Project 667BDRM submarines.

The R-29RM is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile using nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine propellant. Guidance is provided by an astroinertial system. The missile was designed with a payload capacity for ten 100-kiloton multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads, though the version that entered production utilized a four-MIRV configuration.

The system was operated by the Soviet Navy and subsequently the Russian Navy. It was deployed on Delta IV class submarines, which were equipped to carry 16 missiles each. In August 1991, the submarine K-407 Novomoskovsk executed Operation Behemoth-2, launching a full 16-missile salvo in 244 seconds. All missiles struck targets at the Kura Missile Test Range.

Selected missiles were retrofitted as Shtil' carrier rockets for space launch applications. These were used to place microsatellites into low Earth orbit and heliosynchronous orbit from submerged submarines. The R-29RM was phased out of service by 2010 to be replaced by the R-29RMU2 Sineva and R-29RMU2.1 Layner variants. The final vessel carrying the R-29RM entered refit for rearmament in August 2010.