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Photo: SLBM Bulava test launch. Rossiya TV channel
State panel which is to convene in Sept 5-7 will possibly set a launch date of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava on mid Sept, reports Interfax referring to a source in missile industry.
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Bulava could be launched early Sept
23.08.2010
It was previously said by Russian Navy Main HQ that three Bulava test launches would be conducted till the year is over; one of them will be firstly made by the missile's 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.
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