R-36O 8K69 – Yuzhnoye Design Bureau
- Family: R-36O
- Length: 32.6 m
- Diameter: 3 m
- Launch Mass: 182 T
The R-36O 8K69, manufactured by Yuzhnoye Design Bureau established in 1951, undertook its inaugural launch on 07/28/1965. Notably, R-36O 8K69 has 19 successful launches and 2 failed attempts, with a cumulative tally of 21 launches, currently with 0 pending launches in the pipeline.
The R-36O was the only orbiting military nuclear weapon ever deployed, although in order to remain legal under international treaties it was a ‘fractional orbital’ weapon. Although American infrared early warning satellites invalidated the ‘surprise attack’ component of the concept, 18 missiles were operational from 1969 to 1983.
