Reasons of Bulava faults to get out on May 30, trials to continue in summer

06.04.2010
On May 30 the interagency committee will promulgate outputs and proposals based on inquiry findings of SLBM Bulava faults, reports RIA Novosti referring to a source in military industry.

Tests of the missile will be continued; launches done can not confirm the missile's claimed characteristics; totally, over 50 companies work on the missile, pointed out the source.

According to deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin, test schedule of Bulava will depend on results of the first summer launch.

It was previously reported by RIA Novosti referring to the top-ranking source in defense ministry that test launches of Bulava will be performed in the White Sea in summer, most likely in June. In 2010 the missile is to be tested by standard carrier – SSBN Yury Dolgoruky.

Bulava launched by Yury Dolgoruky will make possible to assess how the sub matches the missile since both will be commissioned simultaneously. The missile will be also launched by SSBN Dmitry Donskoy which was the previous carrier.

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 engine was registered during the missile flight; it deviated from required track. According to Vedomosti, reason of the latest faulty launch was manufacturing defect - breakdown of solid engine thrust control mechanism made by NPO Iskra (Perm).

Seven out of twelve Bulava launches were considered unsuccessful, one – entirely successful. As explained by the source of ITAR-TASS, failure origin is so called "floating breakdown" every time appearing at another place. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, all test launches of Bulava cost Russia not less than 100 bln RUR.

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 at 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 would 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 tons
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

Yury Dolgoruky is a Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine; lead sub of the project.

CONSTRUCTION

The sub was laid down in 1996 at Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. Formation of strength hull was completed only in 2005 due to underfinancing. The sub was launched on April 15, 2007 and was under builder's mooring trials at outfitting quay till October 2007. Nuclear reactor was started on November 21, 2008. Mooring trials were held in March 2009.

PERFORMANCE AND DIMENSIONS

Surface speed: 15 knots
Submerged speed: 29 knots
Operating depth: 400 meters
Test depth: 480 meters
Endurance: 90 days
Crew: 107 men
Surface displacement: 14,720 tons
Submerged displacement: 24,000 tons
Extreme length: 160 meters
Extreme beam: 13.5 meters
Mean draft: 10 meters

PROPULSION

190 mW water-cooled thermal reactor OK-650V; steam turbine plant with turbine-geared propulsion unit; screw shaft; supplementary water jet propulsor.

ARMAMENT

Torpedoes, rocket torpedoes, cruise missiles, 6 x 533-mm torpedo tubes, portable air defense systems. In prospect it is planned to arm the sub with 12 SLBM Bulava.

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