24.06.2011
State commission will set date for new trials of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava within the next two days, reported RIA Novosti on June 24 referring to a source in Russian defense industry.
"In the nearest two days the state flight-development commission will set the exact date for new trials of SLBM
Bulava", said the source.
He added that the trials' timing framework had been already determined, i.e. "since June 28 till June 30, 2011". "Test launches will be conducted by the missile's standard carrier, SSBN
Yury Dolgoruky", specified the source.
Out of previous fourteen launches, 7 were recognized successful. The latest
Bulava launch held on Oct 29 was effective. Dates of further trials were postponed several times in order to find out reasons of mishaps.
All
Bulava launches were performed by SSBN
Dmitry Donskoy (Project 941UM
Akula). The coming trial by SSBN
Yury Dolgoruky (Project 955 Borei) will be conducted for the first time.
SLBM
Bulava (in international contracts – RSM-56; on NATO classification – SS-NX-30) is the newest Russian three-stage solid-propellant ballistic missile carried by submarines.
Bulava was designed in the Moscow Thermotechnics Institute. Its flight range is 8,000 km; launch weight is 36.8 tons; number of warheads is 6; guidance system is inertial; payload is 1,150 kg; length in launch container is 12.1 meters; length without warheads is 11.5 meters.
Bulava-carriers are modernized Project 941UM 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.
