Developed from 1946-1951, the R-2 entered service in numbers in 1953 and was deployed in mobile units throughout the Soviet Union until 1962.

In 1945 the Soviets captured several key A-4 (V-2) rocket production facilities, and also gained the services of some German scientists and engineers related to the project.

Under the supervision of the Special technical Commission (OTK) established by the Soviet Union to oversee rocketry operations in Germany, A-4s were assembled and studied.

88, which had produced artillery and tanks during World War II into NII-88, tasked with managing the Soviet Union's long-range rocketry programs.

[4]: 48–9 Korolev proposed commencement of the R-2 project in January 1947, but it was declined by the Soviet government, which favored development of the more technologically conservative R-1.

[7] Maximum body diameter remained 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in), the same as the R-1,[2]: 57–58  and in the interests of conservatism, the R-2 retained the R-1's graphite stabilizing fins, though they reduced lifting capacity and caused heating and stress issues.

None of the 12 flights in this series fulfilled their primary objectives due to engine failures, warhead trajectory errors, and malfunctions with the guidance systems.

[8][4]: 265–266  Per an order dated 27 November, 1951, the R-2 was formally adopted as operational armament for the Soviet Union,[2]: 97  and production was authorized at factory 586 in Dnepropetrovsk three days later.

A crew of 11 was required for the launch of each missile, preparations for which took six hours, including 15 minutes for guidance system programming.

The Geran (Eng: Geranium) radiological warhead, which would disperse radioactive liquid as toxic rain around the impact point, was proposed for use with the R-2.

[4]: 245 The West obtained its first photographs of the R-2 (which they designated SS-2 "Sibling") in December 1959 when aerial surveillance returned images from rockets deployed at Kapustin Yar.

With the completion of the R-7 Semyorka ICBM, however, it became clear that a crewed mission into orbit would happen much sooner, and the plan was abandoned.