Dr. Spontaneous
Y/CSS-30 Spire
Taking a page out of Russian doctrine, the United Songun Republics (USR) and the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia (SRY) began development of a purported advanced road-mobile ICBM launcher during the mid-2000s and adopted the final product in 2013. Utilizing lessons learned from the USR's advanced rocket and space program, the cumulative R&D period was relatively short for such a potent weapon system. Said system--designated the Y/CSS-30 Spire by NATO--is understood to be one of the most powerful nuclear-capable missile systems in the world as there is reportedly capacity for five thermonuclear MIRVs (Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles) aboard the rocket itself. This translates to a total of 1,800 kilotons of raw, destructive atomic energy being delivered to an unlucky target.
More importantly, however, is the fact that the Y/CSS-30 is indeed road-mobile. This means that yet another leg of the USR's nuclear triad can be camouflaged with ease. Although MAD assures us that any conflict that goes nuclear will be apocalyptic, such mobility disables Western planners to accurately account for land-based nuclear launches deriving from east Asia. This might seem like an unimportant variable in the grander scheme of an impending nuclear holocaust, but it has caused much international grief, especially among other nuclear states that must gauge their own nuclear capabilities against that of their peers. Hence, not knowing the extent to which one party can annihilate another is cause for concern in most intelligence circles.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that Yugoslavia has not declared itself a nuclear state nor has there been any indication that Belgrade has attempted to acquire WMDs of any sort. Although the Socialist Republic's heavy industrial know-how was essential in manufacturing the Y/CSS-30's TEL (Transport, Erector, Launcher), it's unclear what its end-goal was in participating in the Spire's overall development program, especially when Yugoslavia's participation was obfuscated in many of the same ways as their development of the YSA-37 Gavel. Whatever the case, several Y/CSS-30 launch vehicles have been photographed in Yugoslav territory, but none of the necessary infrastructure for nuclear preparation has been recorded. As such, the intelligence community at large has suggested that Yugoslavia is trying to create an atmosphere of uncertainty to gain leverage in any future negotiation process. Such a ruse is dangerous, however, as it inspires angst in the SRY's neighbors and this can snowball into yet another armed conflict. An alternative theory is that the Y/CSS-30s in Yugoslavia aren't entirely empty, but rather harbor anti-satellite missiles capable of disrupting the West's orbital reconnaissance and communications network. This is a much more likely scenario as the return on investment is much more sound.
Y/CSS-30 Spire
Taking a page out of Russian doctrine, the United Songun Republics (USR) and the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia (SRY) began development of a purported advanced road-mobile ICBM launcher during the mid-2000s and adopted the final product in 2013. Utilizing lessons learned from the USR's advanced rocket and space program, the cumulative R&D period was relatively short for such a potent weapon system. Said system--designated the Y/CSS-30 Spire by NATO--is understood to be one of the most powerful nuclear-capable missile systems in the world as there is reportedly capacity for five thermonuclear MIRVs (Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles) aboard the rocket itself. This translates to a total of 1,800 kilotons of raw, destructive atomic energy being delivered to an unlucky target.
More importantly, however, is the fact that the Y/CSS-30 is indeed road-mobile. This means that yet another leg of the USR's nuclear triad can be camouflaged with ease. Although MAD assures us that any conflict that goes nuclear will be apocalyptic, such mobility disables Western planners to accurately account for land-based nuclear launches deriving from east Asia. This might seem like an unimportant variable in the grander scheme of an impending nuclear holocaust, but it has caused much international grief, especially among other nuclear states that must gauge their own nuclear capabilities against that of their peers. Hence, not knowing the extent to which one party can annihilate another is cause for concern in most intelligence circles.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that Yugoslavia has not declared itself a nuclear state nor has there been any indication that Belgrade has attempted to acquire WMDs of any sort. Although the Socialist Republic's heavy industrial know-how was essential in manufacturing the Y/CSS-30's TEL (Transport, Erector, Launcher), it's unclear what its end-goal was in participating in the Spire's overall development program, especially when Yugoslavia's participation was obfuscated in many of the same ways as their development of the YSA-37 Gavel. Whatever the case, several Y/CSS-30 launch vehicles have been photographed in Yugoslav territory, but none of the necessary infrastructure for nuclear preparation has been recorded. As such, the intelligence community at large has suggested that Yugoslavia is trying to create an atmosphere of uncertainty to gain leverage in any future negotiation process. Such a ruse is dangerous, however, as it inspires angst in the SRY's neighbors and this can snowball into yet another armed conflict. An alternative theory is that the Y/CSS-30s in Yugoslavia aren't entirely empty, but rather harbor anti-satellite missiles capable of disrupting the West's orbital reconnaissance and communications network. This is a much more likely scenario as the return on investment is much more sound.