Posted on 01/17/2010 11:10:58 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Russia has completed yet another investigation into repeated failures of its new Bulava SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missile). The latest finding is that there was a design flaw in the third stage of the missile. Earlier investigations had found faulty missile components, the use of cheap component substitutes and poor manufacturing practices. But now the Russians believe they have identified and fixed all the flaws, and are planning several more test firings this year. So far, only five of the 13 test firings were successful. Some insiders assert that only one of the 13 tests was an unqualified success. This is in stark contrast to the Bulava's U.S. counterpart, the much older, 58 ton, 44 foot long Trident II, which has not failed to launch successfully in over twenty years. Since 1989, none of more than 120 test launches have failed. The Trident had two failures during its 49 development test launches, but since then, it has been the most reliable SLBM to ever enter service. Each Trident II costs about $65 million, and entered service in 1990. Some of them are fired every year, to insure that the current configuration (of hardware and software) still works as it is supposed
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Have the blueprints been shot in the back of the head yet?
/mark
>This is in stark contrast to the Bulava’s U.S. counterpart, the much older, 58 ton, 44 foot long Trident II, which has not failed to launch successfully in over twenty years.
I guess Trident2 is less sophisticated than Bulava
You got to be joking. In your responses, they always seem anti-American.
The Russians are really slipping. There was a day, not too many years ago, when they could steal the correct blueprints, instead of the dummy ones.
sarc off\
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.