Posted on 03/05/2009 7:18:05 AM PST by pobeda1945
MOSCOW, March 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Defense Ministry is planning to complete tests and put into service sea-based Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in 2009, a deputy defense minister said on Thursday.
The Bulava (SS-NX-30) ICBM carries up to 10 nuclear warheads and has a range of 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). It is designed for deployment on Borey-class Project 955 nuclear-powered submarines.
"We are planning to complete the firing tests and put the Bulava missile system on combat duty aboard the Yury Dolgoruky submarine this year," Gen. Vladimir Popovkin said.
The latest unsuccessful submerged test launch on December 23 from the Dmitry Donskoi strategic nuclear-powered submarine in the White Sea, off Russia's northwest coast, was Bulava's fifth failure in ten trials.
However, the Russian military said that production flaws could be to blame for the unsuccessful test launches and insisted that the tests would continue until the missile was ready for production.
Popovkin said the number of Bulava tests in 2009 could exceed five, and the first test would be conducted not earlier than in June.
Meanwhile, sea trials of Yury Dolgoruky, Russia's first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine are due to start in the spring when navigation begins in the White Sea.
The submarine was built at the Sevmash plant in northern Russia and was taken out of dry dock in April 2007.
The vessel is 170 meters (580 feet) long, has a hull diameter of 13 meters (42 feet), a crew of 107, including 55 officers, a maximum depth of 450 meters (about 1,500 feet) and a submerged speed of about 29 knots. It can carry up to 16 ballistic missiles and torpedoes.
Two other Borey-class nuclear submarines, the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh, are currently under construction at the Sevmash shipyard and are expected to be completed in 2009 and 2011. Russia is planning to build a total of eight submarines of this class by 2015.
Popovkin said a quarter of funds from Russia's state defense orders would be allocated in 2009 to support the strategic nuclear forces, including their naval component.
Russia's state defense orders for 2009 are worth about 1 trillion rubles ($28 billion), with money allocated to the Defense Ministry, as well as to more than 10 other ministries and agencies.
Time’s a wasting’! We must eliminate our missile shield NOW!
This missile, and some of the current Russian submarines, are getting reputations as “buggy”. Fortunately, sailors are not a superstitious lot, and will eagerly sign on to a “cursed ship”.
In a pig’s eye.
Your right, Putin already told Obama to go stick his finger up his nose on the East European Missile Defense Shield.But hey, maybe the US Socialist have a plan to save the US. If we have no missiles to shoot and get rid of our military then the bad guys don’t have to destroy the US, they can just land on our shores and be welcomed as socialist liberators. Of course this is after all the gun owners have been identified and weapons confiscated so to prevent any friction. The Enemy is within...figure it out.
Don't forget to scrap a good portion of our own nuke strike capabilities and any new weapons research. The timing is right!
It's a good match for the US missile shield :)
I know, but it only takes one.
like President Bush’s statement, “the enemy only needs one time to succeed, we must be protected 100% of the time.” or words to that affect.
I know, but it only takes one.
like President Bush’s statement, “the enemy only needs one time to succeed, we must be protected 100% of the time.” or words to that affect.
So, the USA hardly needs to be afraid of Russian nukes that much.
I don’t think anyone is afraid of Russia. It is a matter of whether Russia is to be trusted (the answer is no), whether they have the capability (which they have always had) and being prepared.
Well, if you can afford it, do it. But the shell must be cheaper the the armour, to my mind.
Isn’t this the third new missile Russia has developed in the last few years?
The Topol M (I think) and another that slips my mind at the moment.
Our answer? Trying to refurbish some warheads, if we can remember how to make ‘foam’.
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.