Bulava's Final Test Launch Postponed

29.11.2011 Russian defense ministry postponed the last in 2011 test launch of SLBM Bulava from Nov 28 to a later date, reported RIA Novosti referring to a source in the ministry.

"Final salvo launch of Bulava will be held later. The exact date has not been determined so far", said the interviewee.

Defense ministry earlier planned to conduct a 2-missile salvo launch and then the missile could have been commissioned along with its standard platform – nuclear-powered ballistic submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky.

As for now, 10 out of 17 test launches have been found successful; the latest one was held on Oct 28, 2011. All launches in the current year were performed by Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered submarine Yury Dolgoruky.

R-30 Bulava (in international contracts – RSM-56, on NATO classification – SS-NX-30) is newest Russian three-stage solid-propellant submarine-based ballistic missile.

The missile is capable to carry 6-10 hypersonic independently targetable nuclear warheads with yield of 100-150 kt each maneuvering in altitude and course. It has low-altitude flight profile.

Bulava was designed by Moscow Thermotechnics Institute. Maximum range is 8,000 km; launch weight is 36.8 tons; three stages; inertial guidance system; payload is 1,150 kg; length in launch container is 12.1 meters; length without warhead is 11.5 meters.

Platforms of Bulava-30 are modernized SSBN Dmitry Donskoy (Project 941UM Akula, on NATO classification - Typhoon) and Project 955 Borei submarines – SSBN Yury Dolgoruky, SSBN Vladimir Monomakh, and further ones. Totally, it is planned to build eight Borei-class submarines till 2015.