27.10.2009
Source:
The reason of recent faulty launch of sea-based ballistic missile Bulava is technological defect of first stage flight control assembly, said Monday representative of MIC involved in investigation board.
The missile was launched on July 15 from
Dmitry Donskoy submarine in North Sea. It was self-destructed after off-nominal operation of first stage.
"According to preliminary findings of the board, contingency cause is technological defect of first stage flight control assembly", said the interviewee.
Totally, there were 11 test launches of
Bulava; six of them were determined as faulty.
The spokesman reminded that defective pyrocartridge was the reason of next to the last
Bulava breakdown.
Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, Commander-in-Chief Navy had previously said in interview to
RIA Novosti that the launch would be undoubtedly successful. CIC underlined the necessity of extremely strict quality control over details and components of missiles. It is known that over 500 Russian companies involved in the missile production.
Independent commission appointed after series of faulty test launches of
Bulava sea-based strategic missile is continue working, said Vladimir Popovkin, Deputy Defense Minister in Sept. That is why there will be no exercises yet. After sequent faulty
Bulava launch a commission was appointed to check manufacturing technology of the missile at all phases of production.
Besides, a board of independent experts was set up representing scientific institutes and companies not involved in development and production of
Bulava missile.
According to Popovkin, they have general apprehension of faults' reasons. The main one is lack of technological discipline. It is not a constructive defect but deviation from technological process requirements. During development of
Bulava, the main problem was solved – underwater launch, when the missile penetrates water mass.
Popovkin said that this phase had already been worked out. The problems appear at next flight phases while operation of first and sequent stages.
Sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile
R30 3M30 Bulava-30 (in international contracts –
RSM-56, on NATO classification –
SS-NX-30) is able to carry up to 10 MIRVs with yield up to 150 kilotonnes each. Operational range of
Bulava missile is 8 000 km.
Bulava is expected to be the basis of Russia's naval strategic nuclear forces. These missiles will be primary weapon of Project 955
Borei nuclear-powered submarines being currently built at
Sevmashpredpriyatie:
Yury Dolgoruky,
Alexander Nevsky and
Vladimir Monomakh (12
Bulava solid-fuel ballistic missiles per each). Fourth sub of the series is to be laid down in December. It was preliminary named as
Svyatitel Nikolai.
Yury Solomonov, Director General of
Moscow Thermotechnics Institute (MTI) which had developed
Bulava, resigned after latest missile mishap. However, he kept the post of missile's general designer. Sergei Nikulin, previous head of
Vympel Moscow Machinery Construction Plant was appointed new Director General of MTI.
