Decision on Bulava batch production to be made in 2011

08.12.2010 It is planned to conduct four test launches of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava in 2011 with the view to achieve required reliability factor and start batch production, said Yury Solomonov, director general of Moscow Thermotechnics Institute and the missile's chief designer.

"Formally, we will have to hold four launches in 2011 to reach required parameters and fulfill technical development plan", said Solomonov in the interview to National Defense magazine which will be published later in December.

According to him, reliability factor of any technical system is a sort of artful numbers. "Suffice it to say, if you are tasked to have reliability of 0.93 and practically obtain 0.91, it does not matter much", said the scientist.

However, to go from one number to another, one should perform several expensive launches.

"Officially, we must carry out those launches to meet requirements noted at defense ministry's specifications. It can be done differently – either under state flight test program or bringing into statistics those launches carried out during combat training", Solomonov said.

Answering the question whether it is planned to conduct multiple launches, the scientist said: "All foreign analogues of this submarine are also capable to perform multiple launches. Now this issue is under consideration of state panel".

Solomonov also said that 13th and 14th launches were carried out perfectly. "In both cases desired accuracy was multiply outstripped", said the chief designer.

SLBM Bulava is expected to become the basic element of Russia's naval strategic nuclear force; new Bulava-designed submarines have been already laid down. Only half out of 14 test launches were found successful. The recent launch of Bulava was carried out on Oct 29, 2010 and was also effective. After the latest faulty launch the date of further tests was repeatedly postponed.

SLBM Bulava (in international contracts – RSM-56; on NATO classification – SS-NX-30) is the newest Russian three-stage solid fuel ballistic missile launched by submarines.

Engines of all stages are solid fuel. The missile is capable to carry 6-10 hypersonic independently targeted maneuverable nuclear warheads changing trajectory altitude and course. The missile has low-altitude flight profile.

Bulava was designed in Moscow Thermotechnics Institute. Its flight range is 8,000 km; launch weight is 36.8 tons; number of stages is 3; number of warheads is 6 x 150 kilotons; guidance system is inertial; throw-weight is 1,150 kg; length in launch container is 12.1 meters; length without warhead is 11.5 meters.

Bulava-carriers are modernized Project 941UM Akula (Typhoon) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Dmitry Donskoy and Project 955 Borei subs – Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh and others. Totally, it is planned to build 8 submarines of this type till 2015.