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RSM-56 Bulava

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This article is about the Russian ballistic missile. For the ceremonial mace of the same name, see Bulawa.
R-30 Bulava
File:Bulava.png
Bulava Missile variants
TypeSLBM
Service history
In serviceplanned for 2008
Production history
ManufacturerMoscow Institute of Thermal Technology
Specifications
Mass36.8 metric tons
Length11.5 m (without warhead), 12.1 m (launch container)
Diameter2 m (missile), 2.1 m (launch container)
Warhead6-10 re-entry vehicles with a yield of 100-150 kT each[1]
Enginethree stage solid propellant
Operational
range
>8,000 kilometers[2]
Guidance
system
inertial, possibly with stellar sensor and/or GLONASS update
Launch
platform
pr.955 submarines

The "Bulava" (Russian: «Булава», "mace") is a submarine-launched ballistic missile under development in Russia. The Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology is chiefly responsible for the missile's design. Bulava carries the NATO reporting name SS-NX-30 and has been assigned the GRAU index 3M30. In international treaties, the common designation RSM-56 is used.

Description

The Bulava design is based on the Topol M, but is both lighter and more sophisticated. The two missiles are expected to have comparable ranges, and similar CEP and warhead configurations.

The Russian military developed Bulava to possess advanced defense capabilities making it nearly impervious to existing and future missile-defense systems. Among its claimed abilities are evasive maneuvering, mid-course countermeasures and 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.[3] Prime minister Putin has claimed that Bulava could penetrate any potential anti-missile defence system.

The Bulava is able to carry up to 6-10 MIRV warheads with a yield of 100-150 kT each.[1] A full-capacity payload requires the forfeiture of all final stage countermeasures and of some shielding.

Development history

The decision on developing the “Bulava” missile was adopted in 1998 after three unsuccessful tests of the “Bark” missile of the Miass Construction Bureau named after Makeev. The missile completed the first stage launch-tests at the end of 2004. It was originally scheduled for completion in late 2006, but is now not expected to enter service until 2009. The first boats to carry the Bulava will be the forthcoming Borei-class submarines, which will be outfitted with sixteen missiles each. The first three boats of this class will be deployed in 2010 (a total of 5 were planned for 2015.[4]) A land-based variant is also expected.

On 19 September 2008, a senior Navy official announced that Russia will adopt the new Bulava-M submarine-based ballistic missile for service with the Navy in 2009.[5] However as of July 2009 about half of the tests of the submarine-based Bulava-M have been failures (See the flight test section below).

On 22 July 2009, RIA Novosti reported that Yury Solomonov had resigned from the head of the research institute that was designing the Bulava and that a new director would be appointed in September.[6]

Sergei Kovalyov, the designer of three generation russian strategic submarines, said that the continuing test failures of the Bulava missile are due to several things. "In Soviet times, during the first stage of trials, dummy missiles were fired from a floating launch pad in Balaklava to test the underwater segment of the trajectory. After that, similar tests were conducted on board a re-equipped submarine. They were followed by a number of launches from a land-based launch pad in Nenoks in the Arkhangelsk region to test the flight range. There were no conditions to carry out tests at a floating launch pad in Balaklava, and there was no opportunity to conduct ground-based tests of the missile either, because the funds needed to build launch pads and a new silo were not provided." he said. He also criticised the poor quality of missile components provided by a large number of sub-contractors and the absence of military representatives at manufacturing plants.[7]

Flight tests

2005/2006

The first test launches conducted on 27 September 2005, and 21 December 2005, from the Dmitry Donskoi, a Typhoon class ballistic missile submarine, were successful.[8] The next three flight tests, on 7 September 2006, 25 October 2006, and 24 December 2006, ended in failures of the missile, the causes of which have not yet been revealed.

2007

One successful test launch was conducted on 28 June 2007. Although some reports claim problems with the missiles warheads.[citation needed] On the 5 August 2007 Russia made a decision to start serial production of the Bulava sea-launched ballistic missile.[9] However this did not happen and after a longer period of reviewing the program the decision was made to continue the flight-testing.

2008

On 25 July 2008, the Dmitri Donskoi went to sea to conduct a tests of the new launching system.[10]

Three more tests were conducted during 2008. The first was conducted on 18 September 2008 at 18:45 Moscow time.[11] Some reports did however say that the test was not quite successful and that the bus failed to separate the warheads,[12] or that the missile carried no warheads at all.[13] The second was conducted on 28 November 2008 from a submerged Typhoon class submarine in the White Sea. First reports suggests that is was a successful test.[14] The third and last test of 2008 was conducted at 03:00 GMT on 23 December 2008, but failed after the missile went off-course and self-destructed.[15][16]

On December 23 2008 a senior Russian Navy official said that at least five more Bulava tests will be conducted during 2009.[16]

2009

In February it was announced that the flight-tests would be resumed in March 2009.[17] This was later delayed to June 2009.[18] On July 15 a new test was conducted, ending in another failure when the missiles first stage malfunctioned shortly after launch. Later it was announched that the Russian Defense Ministry's naval commission would investigate the failure.[19][20]

Test Type of test Comment
#1 2003-12-11 Pop-up test of a mockup of the missile. Success
#2 2004-09-23 Pop-up test Success
#3 2005-09-27 First flight test. Launch from a surfaced submarine. Reports about failure of the third stage[citation needed] Success(?)
#4 2005-12-21 First launch from a submerged submarine. Success
#5 2006-09-07 Launch from a submerged submarine. The first stage failed shortly after launch. Failure
#6 2006-10-25 Launch from a submerged submarine. Failure of the first stage. Failure
#7 2006-12-24 From a surfaced submarine. Problems with the third stage. Failure
#8 2007-06-28 Unconfirmed reports about problems with one of the warheads.[citation needed] Success
#9 2008-09-18 Subsurface launch at 18:45, warheads hit target at 19:05.[21] Some warhead problems?[22] Success(?)
#10 2008-11-28 Launch from a submerged submarine. The first statements suggests that the test was a success.[14] Success
#11 2008-12-23 Launch from a submerged submarine. The missile malfunctioned during firing of its third stage and self-destructed on command.[15] Failure
#12 2009-07-15 Launch from a submerged submarine. The missile malfunctioned during firing of its first stage and self-destructed.[23] Failure

Operator

 Russia
The Russian Navy is scheduled to be the sole operator of the Bulava.

References

  1. ^ a b "Bulava missile: test-launch history". RIA Novosti. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  2. ^ "Russians test ballistic missile". BBC News Online. 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  3. ^ "SS-NX-30". MissileThreat.com. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  4. ^ Nikolsky, Aleksei (2006-08-07). "Оружия не хватит". Vedomosti (in Russian). №144 (1671). {{cite journal}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
  5. ^ "Russian Navy to adopt new Bulava ballistic missile in 2009". RIA Novosti. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  6. ^ Russian Bulava missile designer quits after failed tests
  7. ^ http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20090814/155810587.html
  8. ^ "New generation submarines to be armed with Bulava missiles". RIA Novosti. 2006-03-01. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  9. ^ "Russia to launch serial production of Bulava ballistic missile -1". RIA Novosti. 2007-08-05. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  10. ^ Yemelyanenkov, Aleksandr (2008-07-24). "Готовность номер один". Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  11. ^ "Подлодка ВМФ РФ осуществила успешный пуск ракеты "Булава"" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  12. ^ Gritskova, Aleksandra (2008-09-22). ""Булава" не раскалывается". Kommersant (in Russian). Vol. № 170, no. 3987. Retrieved 2009-04-13. {{cite news}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
  13. ^ http://nvo.ng.ru/ need direct link
  14. ^ a b "Russia test launches ICBM from White Sea, hits Kamchatka target". RIA Novosti. 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  15. ^ a b "С АПЛ "Дмитрий Донской" произведен неудачный запуск "Булавы"" (in Russian). Lenta.Ru. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  16. ^ a b "Russia to test-launch at least 5 Bulava ICBMs in 2009 - Navy". RIA Novosti. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  17. ^ Shishlin, Vladimir (2009-02-12). ""Булава": виды на март" (in Russian). Interfax. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  18. ^ Shishlin, Vladimir (2009-03-05). ""Булаву" примут на вооружение в этом году" (in Russian). Interfax. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  19. ^ http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20090716/155543654.html
  20. ^ http://www.air-attack.com/news/article/3784/New-Bulava-missile-test-results-in-failure---Russian-military.html
  21. ^ "Russia successfully test launches Bulava missile from submarine". RIA Novosti. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  22. ^ "Bulava test was not quite successful".
  23. ^ "Reports: test of Russian missile Bulava fails". The Associated Press. 2009-07-16. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
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