New tests of Bulava may be held in January

15.12.2009
Subsequent test launch of SLBM Bulava may be conducted in January 2010, reports RIA Novosti referring to top-ranking military official.

According to the source, firm date of the launch is uncertain so far. Bulava test will continue either in January or in summer when the White Sea is iceless.

News agency Interfax previously said referring to the source in military industry that Bulava tests would resume not sooner than in March 2010 after finding causes of the latest faulty launch.

Twelfth test launch of SLBM Bulava failed; the missile was launched from submerged SSBN Dmitry Donskoy on Dec 9 at the White Sea. Unstable operation of third stage powerplant was registered during the missile flight; it deviated from required track.

Seven out of twelve Bulava launches were considered unsuccessful, one – entirely successful. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, all test launches of Bulava cost Russia not less than 100 bln rub.

Bulava is a submarine-based intercontinental ballistic missile. It is designed for destruction of critical strategic targets at enemy territory. Bulava missiles are planned to be based on Project 941 Akula submarines (example – Dmitry Donskoy) and Project 955 Borei (Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh). SLBM Bulava is currently under development in Moscow Thermotechnics Institute.

Presently, Bulava passes pre-commission test launches from SSBN Dmitry Donskoy. Bulava missiles production will be established at FSUE Votkinsky Zavod which produces ICBM Topol-M as well.

It is expected that Bulava will stop ageing of Russian sea-based nuclear force and even change it in degree. According to the missile's general designer Yury Solomonov, neither current and prospective US ballistic missile defense system nor being developed German, French and Japanese BMD systems will not be capable to track Bulava.

CHARACTERISTICS

Number of stages: 3
Length with warhead: 12.1 meters
Length without warhead: 11.5 meters
Diameter: 2 meters
Launch weight: 36.8 tonnes
Throw-weight: 1,150
Fuel type: solid mixture
Flight range: 8,000 km
Warhead type: multiple, nuclear, jettisonable
Number of warheads: 6
Yield: 6 x 150 kiloton
Guidance: autonomous, inertial, by on-board digital computer complex

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: SLBM Bulava (Vesti 24 TV channel)