Russia to conduct test launch of Bulava missile in November

Forum Contacts RSS		RUSSIAN

RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED November 17, 2011

Russia will carry out the last test of the Bulava ballistic missile this year by the end of November, a defense industry source said on Wednesday.

“It will be a salvo launch from the Yury Dolgoruky strategic submarine, and it will involve at least two missiles,” the source said.

The planned test is the fourth this year and the 18th overall. Despite several previous failures, officially blamed on manufacturing faults, the Russian military has insisted that the Bulava will be the main armament of the next generation of strategic submarines.

The Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). The three-stage missile is designed for deployment on Borey-class nuclear submarines.

Russia’s first Borey class submarine, Yury Dolgoruky, which has recently completed sea trials in the White Sea, is expected to enter service with the Russian Navy in the near future, pending the outcome of the Bulava testing.

Meanwhile, a Russian Navy source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday that the second Borey class submarine, the Alexander Nevsky, will start its second stage of sea trials in the next three days if weather permits.

“The submarine is ready for sea trials to test its performance and communications,” the source said.

The $750-million vessel is expected to complete all trials and enter service with the Russian Navy in 2012.

Two other Borey class nuclear submarines, the Vladimir Monomakh and the Svyatitel Nikolai (St. Nicholas) are in different stages of completion. Russia is planning to build eight of these subs by 2015.

Topics: Russia

Other news:

Belarus agrees to Russian building of nuclear station

Belarus has already started working on the site, Lukashenko said.

Russia, Bangladesh sign agreement to build nuclear power plant

The agreement was signed by Rosatom's head Sergei Kiriyenko and Bangladeshi Minister for Science, Information and Technology Yeafesh Osman.

Faster than light particles found in nuclear research experiment

If the results are confirmed, they would fundamentally change the understanding of how the universe works.

Hero of the day

Georgy Toshinsky: Booming as a Driving Force to Trade (Reactors?)

Not quite so. The authors of the concept, which was difficult to be realized in practice, turned to a clearer concept of a standing wave reactor (TP-1) that in principle allows finding the solution to the tasks stated for TWRs.

INTERVIEW

Alexander Chistozvonov
Today, the army of managers is earnestly believing that one can take the man responsible for the licensing of alcoholic beverages, and put it on licensing, and even to supervise the nuclear reactor.

OPINION

Konstantin Bogdanov
It appears that the report, which has already been disseminated on the Internet and has evoked numerous comments from the press and even from officials, will not be officially published at all.