27.06.2011
First in 2011 trials of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava will be held on June 28, reports RIA Novosti referring to a source in Russian defense industry.
"The decision to conduct test launch of SLBM
Bulava on June 28 was made by the state flight development commission on June 25", said the source.
"The launch will be made by the missile's standard carrier SSBN
Yury Dolgoruky in the Barents Sea", specified the source.
All previous
Bulava launches were performed by SSBN
Dmitry Donskoy (Project 941UM
Akula). The coming trial will be conducted by SSBN
Yury Dolgoruky (Project 955
Borei) for the first time.
Out of previous 14 launches, 7 were recognized successful. The latest
Bulava launch held on Oct 29, 2010 was effective. Dates of further trials were postponed several times in order to find out reasons of mishaps.
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; payload is 1,150 kg; 6 independently targeted warheads; length in launch container is 12.1 meters; length without warheads is 11.5 meters.
Bulava-carriers are Project 955
Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines – SSBN
Yury Dolgoruky, SSBN
Alexander Nevsky, SSBN
Vladimir Monomakh. Totally, it is planned to build 8 submarines of this type till 2015.
