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Ivanov slams Roscosmos on Bulava test launches
01/27/2009Russian Vice Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has criticized Roscosmos for its handling of the test launches of the strategic ballistic missile Bulava. At a meeting of the Federal Space Agency, Ivanov said that such tests must be real, rather than substituted by theoretical modeling, the Mayak radio station reported.
Ivanov asked Roscosmos’ management to pay more attention to flight engineering tests and move closer to the serial production of the Bulava.
Ivanov called on Roscosmos to increase efficiency in its test launches of the Bulava, the Ria Novosti agency reported. “The attention given to ground preparation of the components of the Bulava is insufficient. It is not uncommon that real tests are substituted by mathematical calculations proving that the device meets technical requirements,” Ivanov said.
He stressed that the test launches of the submarine-launched ballistic missile will continue until it is adopted by the armed forces.
A high-ranking official of the Russian Navy said earlier that, because of the latest unsuccessful test-launch of the Bulava, the number of test launches will be increased in 2009 from 3-4 to at least 5.
The tenth test-launch of the Bulava took place on December 23, 2008, from the nuclear submarine Dmitri Donskoi. But the General Staff of the Russian Federation announced later that the missile self-destroyed in flight. Of the ten test launches of the Bulava, only five have been successful.
The submarine-launched Bulava (NATO classification SS-NX-30) is a modern three-stage missile using solid fuel. It was designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. It has a range of no less than 8,000 km. The missile is said to have the ability to be evasive, to maneuver in mid-course and capable of countermeasures. It also believed to have decoys and a warhead fully shielded against both physical and Electromagnetic pulse damage. The Bulava is designed to be capable of surviving a nuclear blast at a minimum distance of 500 meters.
Source:
Translation: RusNavy.com