Bulava test can be held in Aug

17.08.2010 Session of the state panel which would probably make a decision on SLBM Bulava to be launched till the end of Aug will be held next week, reports Interfax referring to a source in defense industry.

The relative proposals were developed by the missile's designer (Moscow Thermotechnics Institute) and Navy Command. There are no technical reasons to postpone Bulava tests. Everything was all right a week ago too; the tests were postponed due to diverting of efforts to fire fighting, the source said.

As it was previously reported by Interfax on Aug 9, subsequent Bulava trials were postponed "at least for two weeks".

According to Russian Navy Main HQ, it is planned to conduct three test launches of SLBM Bulava till the end of 2010, including the first launch from standard carrier – SSBN Yury Dolgoruky.

Twelfth test launch of SLBM Bulava failed; the missile was launched from submerged SSBN Dmitry Donskoy on Dec 9, 2009 at the White Sea. Unstable operation of third stage engine was registered during the missile flight; it deviated from required track. According to Vedomosti, reason of the latest faulty launch was manufacturing defect – breakdown of solid engine thrust control mechanism made by NPO Iskra (Perm).

Seven out of twelve Bulava launches were considered unsuccessful, one – entirely successful. As explained by a source of ITAR-TASS, failure origin is so called "sliding breakdown" every time appearing at another place. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, all test launches of Bulava cost Russia at least 100 bln RUR.

Bulava is a submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is designed for destruction of critical strategic targets at enemy territory. Bulava missiles are planned to be based on Project 941 Akula submarines (Dmitry Donskoy) and Project 955 Borei (Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh). SLBM Bulava is currently under development in Moscow Thermotechnics Institute.

Presently, Bulava passes pre-commission test launches from SSBN Dmitry Donskoy. The missile production will be established at FSUE Votkinsky Zavod which produces ICBM Topol-M as well.

It is expected that Bulava will stop aging of Russian sea-based nuclear force and even change it in degree. According to the missile's general designer Yury Solomonov, neither current and prospective US ballistic missile defense system nor being developed German, French and Japanese BMD systems would be capable to track Bulava.