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The sign by the Pershing-II and SS-20 missiles. It reads


PERSHING-II and SS-20 MISSILES

The Pershing-II and SS-20 exhibited here are two of more than 2,600 nuclear missiles banned by the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in December 1987. The INF Treaty was the first international agreement to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons–those having a range of 500-5,5500 kilometers (300-3,400 miles). The mobile U.S. Pershing-II and Soviet SS-20 were regarded as the most threatening missiles in this class.

The Pershing-II, deployed at American bases in West Germany since 1983, carried a single thermonuclear warhead. The missile here is a training version.

The SS-20 "Saber," deployed at 48 bases in the Soviet Union since 1976, carried three independently targeted thermonuclear warheads. The missile here is a training version.

Pershing II transferred from the U.S. Army

SS-20 transferred from the U.S.S.R.

Pershing-II
Height: 10.6 m (34 ft 10 in)
Propulsion: 2-stage, solid propellant
Range: 1,650-18,000 km (1,020-1,120 mi)
Armament: 1 thermonuclear warhead
Manufacturer:
Airframe: Martin Marietta Aerospace
Rocket motors: Hercules, In.c

SS-20
Height: 16.5 m (54 ft 1 in)
Propulsion: 2-stage, solid propellant
Range: 4,400 km (2,700 mi)
Armament: 3 thermonuclear warhead
Manufacturer: Votkinsk Machine Building Plant


I did not take photos of these missiles, although they are visible in the background of my photos of the X-15, XP-59A Airacomet, and Gemini 4.

The Redstone Arsenal, under whose guidance the Pershing family of missiles was designed, has a page on the Pershing missile.

The Pershing II is NASM catalog #A19910037000 and the SS-20 is #A19900275000.

 
Pershing-II and SS-20 missiles sign in the Milestones of Flight gallery at the National Air & Space Museum
Time picture taken Tue Jun 19 10:37:40 2007
Location picture taken Second Floor Balcony
Overlooking Milestones of Flight Gallery
National Air & Space Museum
Washington, DC
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