One of the Project 667BDR submarines, Ryazan, which returned to service last year after an overhaul, conducted a successful launch of a ballistic missile. The missile was launched from a submerged submarine deployed in the Barents Sea. The warhead was reported to reach the Kura test site successfully. Although the Russian Navy was unusually secretive about the type of the missile, it almost certainly was the R-29R. The Navy representative told Interfax that it was a missile that had already been in service and that it was neither Bulava or Sineva.
This is, of course, an old missile, but the Soviet Union produced them in large quantities at the time, so it looks like there are enough of them to arm one or two submarines. There was a report that suggested that Russia resumed large-scale production of SLBMs, but it appears that was a misquote and as far as R-29R missiles are concerned Russia is relying on the old Soviet stock.
UPDATE 08/04/08: According to Roskosmos, the launch took place at 12:52 MSK (08:52 UTC). It is possible that it was not a usual R-29R missile - the launch involved Makeyev Design Bureau representatives.
The book
Comments
So, as Russian and me correctly asserted, there is a stock of R-29R SLBM enough to assure that 667BDR will be operational in the near future.
In NATO speak, that's a "Delta III" launching an SS-N-18 "Stingray".
[Note: This was in response to a comment that its author asked me to delete because of a clear error -PP]
Can the Delta III be modified to fire the new Sineva SLBM ?
Iirc the Sineva is the R-29RMU. So it's not compatible with the older subs? Otherwise what stops the R-29RMU from just replacing the R-29R's on the Delta's?
Here is a table comparing the different Soviet/Russian SLBM: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/rockets_slbm.html
The R-29RM/Sineva has an increased weight, length and diametre compared to the R-29R, and I guess its not possible to replace the R with the RMU.
> Otherwise what stops the R-29RMU from just replacing the R-29R's on the Delta's?
- In one word: SIZE.
(a) R-29R is SS-N-18 Stingray and suitable for Delta IIIs.
(b) R-29RM (as well as R-29RMU, R-29RMU2) is SS-N-23 Skiff and suitable for Delta IVs.
> as far as R-29R missiles are concerned Russia is relying on the old Soviet stock.
- If R-29RMs (RMUs / RMU2s) production has been completely restored, why not restore refurbishing or production of R-29Rs?
In other words: why 'old stocks' ONLY?
Off-course these wishful hypothesis about “virtual patrols of empty Delta-III” have been appropriately buried with this information.
Today, perhaps the best intelligence on the Russian Navy comes from the Norwegians. I don’t know why Oslo has such a pipeline into the Admiralty but they seem to do so. General thought is the Delta IIIs don’t patrol. Perhaps the recent test by the “Ryazan” is to recertify the SS-N-18s in case there is a prolonged delay to Bulava and the Borey’s submarines. With that being said, I think the issues on Bulava will be solved and the Yuri Dolgorukiy-class will replace the Delta IIIs in inventory.
Strictly conjecture on my part.
Frank Shuler
USA
There is no doubt that the Project 955 will replace the Project 667BDR.
There is a question as to what kind of missile will be on the first production versions of the Project 955, and there is speculation it won't be the R-30 "Bulava". As it won't be ready for at least 5 years.