Russian Designer Charged of Leaking Bulava Secrets Abroad

15.05.2012 A responsible person of a "closed-type" enterprise in Sverdlovsk region was charged of disclosure of classified information about strategic missile Bulava to foreign intelligence. The unnamed employee will face the closed-door trial in the nearest days in Yekaterinburg, reported Interfax on May 12 referring to a source in law enforcement authorities.

According to the source, the suspected person works in a research-and-production complex designing strategic missile control systems. The employee is charged of transferring "state secret information related to strategic armaments".

Officially, law enforcement authorities have not commented this information so far. However, the case is under control of Russian General Procuracy.

Solid-propellant three-stage missile R-30 Bulava is meant to be key armament of Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The missile can be launched from underwater and on the move. Bulava is capable to destroy targets at the range up to 8,000 km and carry 6-10 nuclear reentry vehicles with yield of 150 kiloton each.

Most of 13 first test launches of Bulava failed. However, the recent series of tests held in 2010-2011 was successful, and the missile was recommended for commission to Russian Navy. As is expected, SLBM Bulava will be put in service in Oct 2012 and make the core of maritime element of Russia's nuclear triad.