Valerian Sobolev, designer of the Topol and Iskander missile systems, has passed away.

      Since 1991 Sobolev had held the position of chief designer at the Central Design Bureau "Titan".

      Russian scientist and rocket engineer Valerian Sobolev has died at the age of 88, the Zvezda TV channel reported. He went down in history as one of the key developers of launchers for the strategic missile system "Topol" and the operational-tactical system "Iskander."

      Valerian Sobolev was born in 1938 in Stalingrad. After earning a degree as a mechanical engineer from the auto-tractor faculty of the Stalingrad Mechanical Institute, he devoted his life to the development of domestic rocketry. In 1968 he headed the experimental design bureau (OKB) of the Barricades drilling equipment plant. Since 1991 Sobolev had served as chief designer of the Central Design Bureau "Titan."

      Under his leadership design work was carried out to create launchers for the "Pioneer" system and a mobile ground missile complex with the ICBM "Topol."

      "Topol" is a Soviet mobile missile system with an intercontinental ballistic missile, accepted into service in 1988. Its mobility makes it a difficult-to-detect and difficult-to-destroy target. The system is equipped with a three-stage rocket capable of delivering a single warhead to distances of up to 10,000 kilometers. Development of the "Topol" began in 1975.

      "Iskander" is a family of Russian operational-tactical missile systems designed to deliver high-precision strikes on targets at ranges up to 500 kilometers. Its development started in 1988, and the first public demonstration took place in 1999. Valerian Sobolev, along with Oleg Mamalyga, was one of the key designers who worked on the "Iskander," which also became the basis for the hypersonic missile system "Kinzhal."

      Renata Valeeva

      More news about the event:

      Valerian Sobolev — designer of the "Topol" and "Iskander" missile systems — has passed away

      Since 1991 Sobolev had held the position of chief designer at the Central Design Bureau "Titan"

      Russian scientist and rocket engineer Valerian Sobolev has died at the age of 88. 14:29 26.11.2025 Realnoe Vremya - Kazan

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Valerian Sobolev died at the age of 87

      Russian scientist and rocket engineer Valerian Sobolev died in his 88th year. 13:28 26.11.2025 Business Online - Kazan

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" systems Valerian Sobolev died after an illness

      In Volgograd, at the age of 88 after a prolonged illness, Valerian Sobolev — one of the leading domestic designers of missile launch systems — has died. 12:57 26.11.2025 Tatar-Inform News Agency - Kazan

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      In Volgograd they are saying farewell to the inventor of the "Topol" and "Iskander"

      Photo: Alexander Kulikov, source: RIAC

      At the age of 88, the outstanding developer of the famous missile systems "Topol" and "Iskander" has died. 16:31 26.11.2025 Volzhskaya Pravda - Volzhsky

      Andrey Bocharov expressed condolences to the relatives of Valerian Sobolev

      The Russian scientist, chief designer of the Central Design Bureau "Titan," died at the age of 88. 15:41 26.11.2025 Volgogradskaya Pravda Newspaper - Volgograd

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Valerian Sobolev has died

      Photo: www.vstu.ru

      The well-known designer died after a long illness in Volgograd. 16:37 26.11.2025 Tolk Online Edition - Barnaul

      In Volgograd the outstanding designer Valerian Sobolev has died

      He became world-famous as one of the creators of the "Topol." Photo: Presidential Fund "Doverie"

      Today it became known that, in his 88th year, Russian scientist, Doctor of Technical Sciences, has died in Volgograd. 13:30 26.11.2025 Volganet.Net - Volgograd

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" systems Valerian Sobolev died in Volgograd

      Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

      At the age of 88, Valerian Sobolev — creator of the missile systems "Topol" and "Iskander" — has died. 13:28 26.11.2025 Yamal-Media - Salekhard

      The creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Valerian Sobolev has died

      Photo from the Presidential Club "Doverie" website. The outstanding designer was 87 years old. 14:16 26.11.2025 EchoSevera.Ru - Arkhangelsk

      Designer of the "Iskander" launch system has died — Valerian Sobolev was 87 years old

      Today, November 26 at 12:53, Russia/world. A well-known designer of military equipment has died. Photo: @bbbreaking The creator of the "Iskander" launcher has died. 14:10 26.11.2025 Hibiny.Com - Murmansk

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" Valerian Sobolev has died

      In Volgograd, at the age of 88, Valerian Sobolev — one of the key developers of domestic launch systems who stood at the origins of several generations of Russian missile technology — has died. 14:08 26.11.2025 InformPskov.Ru - Pskov

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Valerian Sobolev has died

      The creator of the launchers "Topol" and "Iskander" Valerian Sobolev has died at the age of 88 in Volgograd after a prolonged illness, a friend of his family, Vyacheslav Cherepakhin, reported. 13:58 26.11.2025 Pln-Pskov.Ru - Pskov

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" systems Valerian Sobolev has died

      Photo: TASS/ITAR-TASS/Alexey Panov

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Valerian Sobolev has died at the age of 87 in Volgograd. 12:55 26.11.2025 M24.Ru - Moscow

      Creator of "Topol" and "Iskander" Valerian Sobolev has died in Volgograd

      Photo: Dmitry Rogulin / "Gorodskie Vesti"

      He was 87 years old.

      In Volgograd, at the age of 88, Valerian Sobolev, creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers, died after a long illness. 12:52 26.11.2025 Gorodskie Vesti Newspaper - Volgograd

      "Legendary figure": creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Sobolev has died

      Text: Kirill Ryabinin "Legendary figure": creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Sobolev has died. Text: 16:32 26.11.2025 A42.Ru - Kemerovo

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Valerian Sobolev has died

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Valerian Sobolev has died. He was 87 years old. 12:32 26.11.2025 Rzn.Info - Ryazan

      Creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" has died

      The legendary Soviet designer died in Volgograd at the age of 88 after a prolonged illness. 14:28 26.11.2025 Orenburg.Media - Orenburg

      Creator of "Topol" and "Iskander" Valerian Sobolev has died at 87

      Photo: Shutterstock

      The creator of the "Topol" and "Iskander" launchers Valerian Sobolev has died at the age of 88. 12:03 26.11.2025 Vechernyaya Moskva - Moscow

      Creator of "Topol" and "Iskander" Valerian Sobolev has died in Volgograd

      In Volgograd, Valerian Markovich Sobolev, a well-known designer at JSC "FNPC 'Titan-Barricades'," has died, the Oblvesti.ru website reports. 10:06 26.11.2025 Vysota 102.0 News Agency - Volgograd

      In Volgograd they will say goodbye to designer Valerian Sobolev

      Valerian Markovich Sobolev has died at the age of 88 — a Russian scientist, Doctor of Technical Sciences, chief designer of the Central Design Bureau "Titan," laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes. 09:40 26.11.2025 Volgogradskaya Pravda Newspaper - Volgograd

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