Defense Ministry: Bulava May Join Navy in Autumn

29.06.2012 Commissioning of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava is scheduled in the coming fall, said Russian deputy defense minister Alexander Sukhorukov having noted that one of the Bulava-carrying submarines – SSBN Alexander Nevsky – was at the final stage of state acceptance trials.

"By the year end, in the fall, all documents commissioning Bulava missile will be signed, and then combat training will start", reports Interfax citing Sukhorukov who appeared at the 2-nd international engineering technology forum.

According to the deputy defense minister, test launches of the missiles will be held during the combat training period in order to "check readiness of the crews for battle task accomplishment".

Sukhorukov added that Project 955 Borei submarine Alexander Nevsky was completing state acceptance trials at the time.

"Alexander Nevsky took the sea 10 days ago. If the state commission on July 21 or on August 1 says all trial goals are successfully achieved, the submarine commissioning documents will be signed at once", Sukhorukov said.

He reminded that defense ministry and United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) had signed the construction contract for the whole series of Borei- and Yasen-class submarines.

Except for SSBN Alexander Nevsky, a Yasen-class sub and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya revamped for Indian Navy are currently passing trials as well, pointed out the deputy defense minister.

As for him, Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered strategic submarines will be stationed at Pacific and Northern fleets. "I can surely say, both the Arctic and the Pacific oceans", said Sukhorukov answering the question where the new Borei-class subs would be based. "It is inappropriate to round up all subs at one place, isn't it?" he added.

Sukhorukov pointed out that submarines joining the maritime strategic nuclear force will be deployed at different theaters. "We have plenty missions to accomplish, there are east and west coasts, if you understand what I mean", Sukhorukov said.

He noted that construction of quayside and coastal infrastructure for Borei-class submarines had started both at Northern and Pacific fleets. "Of course, I won't tell you coordinates", said Sukhorukov answering the question where exactly the subs will be based.

Project 955 Borei fourth-generation submarines were developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg). New technologies of shipboard radioelectronics and noise reduction were applied at their construction.

Basic weapon of the Borei-class submarines is ballistic missile system Bulava. Each sub may carry 16 solid-propellant ballistic missiles R-30 Bulava with flight range over 10,000 km equipped with independently targetable reentry vehicles.

Warhead of each Bulava missile consists of six reentry vehicles. Submarines are equipped with surfacing rescue chamber capable to accommodate all crewmembers. Length of Borei-class submarines is 170 meters; beam is 13.5 meters; test depth is 450 meters; crew is 107 men.

SSBN Yury Dolgoruky was laid down in 1996 at Sevmash shipyard. Two batch subs SSBN Alexander Nevsky and SSBN Vladimir Monomakh were keel-laid there in 2004 and 2006 respectively. First of them is undergoing shipyard's trials with a view to be commissioned this year; the latter one is under construction.

Late in May, defense ministry and United Shipbuilding Corporation signed three contracts for modernized Project 955A submarines; each of those 5 submarines will be capable to carry 20 Bulava ballistic missiles. The contract for designing of the lead sub under the modernized Borei project bearing working name of Svyatitel Nikolai was tied with Rubin design Bureau; for construction of the lead sub - with Sevmash shipyard; for construction of 4-sub batch of upgraded Borei-class submarines – with United Shipbuilding Corporation.

Therefore, eight strategic submarines are to be built and delivered to Russian Navy till 2020 under arms procurement program; three of them are Project 955 Borei four-generation subs with 16 SLBMs Bulava each, and five are Project 955A Borei-A fifth-generation subs with 20 SLBMs Bulava each.

Deputy chairman of the Military Industrial Committee Yury Borisov told reporters on May 29 that characteristics of Project 955/955A Borei and Project 885/885M Yasen submarines are by tens percent exceed those of the previous generations subs.