Russian Nuclear Triad: Status and Warheads

Russia is expanding its solid-propellant motor-production facilities

Russia’s latest expansion and refurbishment of its solid-propellant motor production facilities signals a significant step towards bolstering its missile-manufacturing capabilities.



Russia is engaged in what US officials describe as the ‘most ambitious expansion in military manufacturing since the Soviet era’. Satellite imagery suggests that solid-propellant rocket motor-production capacity appears to be one focus of this effort.

Substantial development activity is visible at five sites associated with the production of solid propellants. Recent satellite imagery suggests building work is taking place at multiple locations, including possible refurbishment of dormant Soviet-era facilities and the construction of new infrastructure. This work is noteworthy given that for the last 30 years there has been little evidence of expansion or refurbishment. Only in 2023, three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, did substantial investment appear to be underway.

Solid-propellant missile systems are central to Russia’s strategic arsenal and to its tactical ground-launched shorter-range weapons. Russia has used short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) widely in its war against Ukraine. The Russian Armed Forces have deployed multiple types of surface-to-surface missiles, including the 9K720 Iskander-M (RS-SS-26 Stone) SRBM and rockets fired by the Tornado-S multiple rocket launcher system (MRL), targeting both high-value Ukrainian military assets and critical infrastructure. Additionally, surface-to-air missile systems, such as the S-300P(RS-SA-20 Gargoyle) and S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler), are central elements of Russia’s ground-based air-defence architecture, which it has also utilised in secondary ground-attack roles. Larger composite solid-propellant motors are also utilised in a large proportion of Russia’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and its newer submarine-launched ballistic missiles that form the central pillar of Moscow’s strategic nuclear deterrent.

All these systems rely on composite solid-propellant motors, with their complex production processes and the need for specialised facilities representing a potential bottleneck in manufacturing capacity.

While Russia openly acknowledges and often celebrates its missile-design bureaus and the system integrators responsible for assembling these systems, it is less forthcoming on those firms involved in motor production.



Relatively little information is available about the exact type of motors currently produced at the wider Biysk II site. A company presentation mentions the entities of the wider complex being involved in the production of older Soviet SLBM designs and also the newer Bulava (RS-SS-N-32). A declassified CIA document mentions the site was involved in the filling of end domes – that is, the upper end section of the motor casing – for the RT-2PM Topol (RS-SS-25 Sickle).



The Kamensky Plant has historically been associated with the production of motors for the RT-23 Molodets (RS-SS-24 Scalpel), which Russia retired from service in 2005, and the Topol ICBM. It has also worked with NPO Splav, which produces various MRL systems, including the Uragan, Smerch and Tornado.



Declassified CIA documents state that this facility was involved in the research and development of propulsion systems for the Topol ICBM. Various Russian sources claim that this site has been associated with the development of solid propellants used by Topol-M and RS-24 Yars (RS-SS-27) ICBMs, Iskander-M SRBM, Bulava SLBM, and Smerch MRL. President Vladimir Putin decorated the director of the centre, Yuri Milekhin, as ‘Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation’ in 2023.





Declassified CIA documents state that this facility was involved in the research and development of propulsion systems for the Topol ICBM. Various Russian sources claim that this site has been associated with the development of solid propellants used by Topol-M and RS-24 Yars (RS-SS-27) ICBMs, Iskander-M SRBM, Bulava SLBM, and Smerch MRL. President Vladimir Putin decorated the director of the centre, Yuri Milekhin, as ‘Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation’ in 2023.



This site may have been used in the production of post-boost-vehicle motors for the RT-2PM Topol (RS-SS-25). While little is known about the current activities at Perm, a congratulatory note released by the company’s then-director in 2016 mentioned that the entity had contributed to nearly all of the products of the Moscow Institute for Thermal Technology. The latter is Russia’s prime design bureau for solid-propellant ICBMs and SLBMs, including the Topol M, Yars and Bulava systems.




This site may have been used in the production of post-boost-vehicle motors for the RT-2PM Topol (RS-SS-25). While little is known about the current activities at Perm, a congratulatory note released by the company’s then-director in 2016 mentioned that the entity had contributed to nearly all of the products of the Moscow Institute for Thermal Technology. The latter is Russia’s prime design bureau for solid-propellant ICBMs and SLBMs, including the Topol M, Yars and Bulava systems.




This site, like the Perm facility, may have been involved in the production of post-boost-vehicle motors for the RT-2PM Topol. According to Russian press reports, the Morozov Plant currently produces motors used in the Iskander and Topol-M systems.

While Russian press reports and declassified CIA documents provide some insights into the types of motors historically and currently produced at these sites, the specific purpose behind the recent facility expansions remains unclear.

Identifying the purpose of the expansion is complicated by the possibility that multiple facilities may be involved in the development and production of motors for a single missile system, a scenario documented by the CIA for Soviet ICBM development. This ambiguity makes it difficult to attribute a specific expansion to a particular missile programme or category of missiles.

Other questions concern the status of production of key precursor chemicals required for solid-propellant production. According to Russian press reports, Russia currently relies on a single producer of ammonium perchlorate, a critical oxidizer used in most modern composite propellants. The entity, Federal State Enterprise ‘Anozit’ in Novosibirsk Oblast, announced plans in 2022 to renovate its ammonium-perchlorate production line. However, satellite imagery has yet to show any significant changes at the facility. It remains unclear whether Russia sources this key chemical from alternative suppliers.

Russia’s import of ballistic missiles from Iran and North Korea suggests that its SRBM production is insufficient to meet its demands for war in Ukraine. Expanding its solid-propellant manufacturing capabilities could enable Russia to replenish and enhance its existing arsenal of key systems deployed in Ukraine. In the longer term, this expansion could also strengthen Russia’s capacity to develop systems capable of posing a threat to NATO members.

https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2024/11/russia-is-expanding-its-solid-propellant-motor-production-facilities/