Missile, Surface-to-Surface, SS-20, Fragment

This piece of twisted metal is an artifact of the destruction of the SS-20 missiles in compliance with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces agreement between the US and USSR. The Treaty was the first of its kind to eliminate an entire class of missiles. The twisted and burnt characteristics of this fragment resulted from the method of destruction of the SS-20 missiles. The solid fuel used in the SS-20 missile is integrated into the construction of the missile. The fuel could not be removed from the missile without firing the missile. The joint US-Russian teams that oversaw the destruction of the missiles agreed that the best procedure to render the missiles inoperative was through explosive destruction. This is a piece of one SS-20 missile that was destroyed in this manner.

The U.S. On-Site Inspection Agency transferred this object to the museum.