Russian Navy to continue development of SLBM Bulava – Navy CIC

16.12.2009
Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky considers development of sea-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava should continue despite its recent test failure. The Navy CIC denied replacement of Bulava with another missile.

"We'll continue [to work on Bulava]. Can't imagine how it might be replaced with anything else", said the admiral to ITAR-TASS. Answering the question whether it is possible either to create another missile instead of Bulava or to use army-approved SLBM Sineva (RSM-54) installed on Project 667BDRM Delfin SSBNs (Delta IV on NATO classification), admiral V. Vysotsky said: "It's impossible".

The firm date of subsequent test launch of Bulava is not certain, said another high-ranking military official to ITAR-TASS. "There will be no new tests this year, that's for sure. Speaking of 2010, nothing is certain so far", he said confirming that the Navy would continue developing Bulava.

The source appraised the suppositions of possible replacement of Bulava with another missile like Sineva as "groundless".

"Replacement of Bulava with any new missile is impossible", said the Navy spokesman. He explained that enormous funds had been invested in Bulava. Launching tubes of Yury Dolgoruky-type subs and the world's heaviest nuclear-powered submarine Dmitry Donskoy (Project 941 Akula) which is being used for Bulava tests are designed and partially produced just for that missile. Furthermore, it is impossible to replace Bulava with Sineva due to technical differences of those missiles. The first one is solid-fueled and dry-started; the latter is liquid-fueled, water-started and bigger in size. "To replace those missiles, one needs to break non-operative subs and build them again; in other words, to start from scratch and throw away abnormal money", explained the interviewee.

Faulty operation of third stage powerplant happened during 12th test launch of Bulava last Wednesday. Ministry of Defense Press Service reported to ITAR-TASS that "in accordance with flight development tests of SLBM Bulava an underwater launch was performed by SSBN Dmitry Donskoy at the White Sea on Dec 9". "In-launch telemetry data was studied when the sub returned to base. It was found out that first and second stages had operated normally; the malfunction occurred at the third phase of trajectory", said military official.

"According to survey data, an unstable operation of third stage powerplant was registered", noted the MoD spokesman.

Causes of malfunction are being inquired by state panel on the missile flight development tests, informed the press service. The sub's crew had done its work properly, underlined the spokesman.

R30 3M30 Bulava is a sea-launched BM. That is the newest Russian three-stage solid-fuel missile designed as the basic weapon for perspective Borei-project SSBNs. It was developed by Moscow Thermotechnics Institute. The missile carries up to ten hypersonic maneuverable independently targetable nuclear reentry vehicles capable to change flight trajectory in altitude and course and to defeat targets at the distance up to 8,000 km. It is planned that SLBM Bulava will constitute the basis of perspective Russian strategic nuclear force till 2040-2045.

Source: ITAR-TASS, photo: Bulava launch (Rossiya TV channel)