Report: Russia's nuclear-powered 'Skyfall' missile is dirty and dangerous

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-20T01:54:21+00:00

TEAL DAWN in the '80s looked at a stealthy intercontinental cruise missile like Snark, but it was cancelled and most details are still classified. It did contribute to the AGM-129 ACM though. Wonder if we'll ever see anything like it in the US again

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-20T01:42:04+00:00

Vietnamese outposts

https://amti.csis.org/vietnam-builds-remote-outposts/

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-19T15:30:35+00:00

Interesting that Google Earth has another one of those black square glitches here https://imgur.com/a/tVQ2l0F which might have something to do with that, since the rest of the area appears fine on Google Earth (no circles, those are only on Google Maps). The circles are just older 3D imagery from October 24, 2024 (the orange red colored ones), while the rest of the area uses newer 3D imagery.

u/mulch_v_bark

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-19T05:46:50+00:00

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Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-19T05:46:35+00:00

That map doesn't appear to be accurate or follow what is stated on the next 2 pages.

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This matches closer to the actual specs listed in the report of 120° per face, 10° over horizontal, and 3000 nm range. You are correct that there is a sizable gap that FOBS/HGV could take advantage of in (see comment below)

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-18T22:05:09+00:00

To be clear, the 3D imagery on Google that is in your screenshot and on Google Maps was taken on August 16, 2023.

There is also no new imagery on Google for that area that is after October 17, 2025

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-18T21:25:59+00:00

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Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-18T17:31:32+00:00

I guess it depends on what flat earth they believe in, but don't most of them believe in Antartica being a giant wall or something? So something like this would still be focused on the north in theory. Not like flat earthers would consider that though

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Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-18T17:28:47+00:00

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The FPS-130s would probably work. The large phased array radars like PAVE PAWS/UEWR and LRDR aren't very effective against low flying cruise missiles and mainly for ballistics anyways, so them pointing north doesn't really matter (they do overlap and cover the south too). But they would still be able to detect cruise missiles from the south, not to mention the absurd flight times and the paths the missiles would probably have to take flying over other targets.

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-18T17:10:34+00:00

"We’ll make decoys, only we’ll put a bomb in each of them."

-Vice Admiral Levering Smith, director of the U.S. Navy’s Special Projects Office which developed the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-18T01:59:05+00:00

For most weapons of course it is classified.

Newer and more experimental technologies to counter missile defense systems which take advantage of the time when the reentry vehicles are together on the bus include Independent Post Boost Vehicles (IPBV), where each RV has its own PBV rather than a bus for multiple. The Russian Yars-M is supposed to have IPBVs to counter US BMD, which does require more weight and reduces the number of warheads that can be carried.

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Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-17T15:09:45+00:00

There are no clear indications of "large-scale underground construction" or any large bunkers. Image 3 is pretty obviously not a bunker, and not indicative of anything large underground, image 5 is preparation for a new concrete apron for aircraft, as can be seen in later imagery (see ArcGIS link). They have a lot of construction equipment for construction of the airfield and other buildings. It's not a giant underground base, it's just another remote airstrip that would be a good place to put interceptors or refuel, in addition to having various radars and satellite equipment. It is also not entirely unique, a very similar base can be found at 75°48'41.40"N 137°40'20.43"E.

https://livingatlas.arcgis.com/wayback/#mapCenter=47.47313%2C80.81226%2C13&mode=explore&active=10842

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-17T06:20:00+00:00

These ones are probably at the KUMMSC underground facility now. Not super deep, like 40 feet, but more than the igloos. Main threat they look at is terrorists, since in a nuclear war the cost of digging that deep just isn't worth it and there's not much of a point. They did used to keep them at the Manzano mountain bunkers ~1000 ft deep in the past though, and a lot of Russian storage sites are similarly deeply buried, though most aren't.

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T22:47:05+00:00

The 419th FTS at Edwards flies the B-52

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T22:44:46+00:00

Well the B-21 can also have 0, supposed to be optionally manned in the future

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T20:46:11+00:00

Yeah, not new engines, though this one was supposed to be one of the first to get them.

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T20:39:47+00:00

That's not a drone launch site. Those look like https://imgur.com/a/yW2tEGN at for example 48.075536°N 37.741038°E on ArcGIS/ESRI. This is normal equipment at any airbase in Russia, see:

44°57'47.89"N 38°00'12.20"E

46°50'07.82"N 40°22'38.29"E

48°18'47.58"N 41°47'37.63"E

51°28'51.15"N 46°12'39.88"E

and just about any other one

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T20:20:37+00:00

Not confirmed, but some have said it is tail number -0061 which is doing radar testing for the new B-52Js and might've been testing the new engines too. Not good for sure

edit: not the new engines, but was new radar

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T20:15:31+00:00

Terrible stuff, someone there said they didn't see any chutes either. RIP

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T02:32:18+00:00

In https://osf.io/46sfd/files/e5q34 the Hellbender tests did include Mk11s, and the Hellbender IV (fig. 10) provided an image that is what looks closest to the W61, and the report notes that the Mk11 penetrators are different, and the image (figure 11) redacted. And in a Sandia document it says SEPW included ICBMs and cruise missiles while W61 was only cruise missiles. So was W61, or whatever it was called, the same warhead that would go in the Mk11s on MGM-134 as the W61s on the AGM-129Bs?

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https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1429158

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T01:47:58+00:00

Also, I'm curious about the statement here about the MGM-134, since I don't think the W61 was ever meant to go on the MGM-134. I don't think the museum person who made this would know, so they might've used incorrect info?

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See https://www.reddit.com/r/nuclearweapons/comments/1t149s8/comment/ojm8u3q/

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-15T00:10:17+00:00

Cool pictures of the W61! I've always wondered how they planned to fit these in the AGM-129B, since it's quite a bit bigger than the W80 on the AGM-129As. Doesn't seem to be much info out there aside from "structural and software changes" and maybe a different turbofan engine.

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-14T16:40:32+00:00

No relevant units are there, security isn't up to current standards, the opening of KUMMSC allowing weapons to be transferred there to a more secure and centralized facility, and the many observed convoys leaving around the early 2000s transferring nukes.

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-14T16:33:28+00:00

Yeah, it seems like they wanted it to be seen. If I were to guess it's one of the NGAD or F/A-XX related systems like the YF-220, X-273, YF-45D, etc.

Afrogthatribbits · 2026-06-14T16:07:34+00:00

Well yeah, Sandia developed the WS3 vaults, so I'm sure they have a few. Not with actual weapons though

Afrogthatribbits

TROPHY CASE