Victor Esin, former chief of staff of the Strategic Rocket Forces, was quoted in Izvestia as saying that the contract for the new heavy MIRVed ballistic missile will go to the Makeyev Design Bureau. This is a somewhat surprising move - this design bureau traditionally built sea-launched missiles and the project itself was most heavily lobbied for by NPOmash. Apparently, one of the factors in the decision was the existing manufacturing base in Krasnoyarsk, which has been producing R-29RM Sineva missiles for Project 667BDRM submarines.
The news would explain why the former General Designer of the NPOmash, Gerbert Efremov, in his interview last month, talked about the project as if his company may not receive it. It apparently didn't.
The new missile is supposed to be ready for deployment in 2018, but this is most likely unrealistic - a new missile is a new missile, even though adapting an SLBM line for land-based silos is arguably less difficult than building a se-launched missile anew.
The choice of Makeyev Design Bureau might also suggest that the new missile will not carry the "hypersonic maneuverable warhead" that was in the news a few years ago.
UPDATE: Apparently, NPOmash will take part in the project as well.
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What is happening with the"hypersonic maneuverable warhead" project ? Is this warhead will be used for RS-24 and Bulava missile ?
Pavel
I would agree building a SLBM system from scratch is a far more ambitious project than a silo-based ICBM. However, it doesn’t mean such a land-based system is without development risk. Obviously, the success of the Makeyev Design Bureau and the remanufactured R-29RM Sineva missile played a role here in securing the contract to build the new liquid fueled, “heavy”, ICBM we’ve been hearing about for some time. While parts of the technology from the Sineva project may be somewhat transferable to the new ICBM, the real advantage is that the Kremlin has confidence in the design team and the manufacturing process of Makeyev (MDB) to deliver the new missile. However, building a new silo-based ICBM will present significant challenges to a traditional naval missile developer; EMP hardening, for example.
Assuming Russia has no intentions of building new silos, how many of these new ICBMs do we think will be produced? If memory serves, Russia has 130 surviving SS-19/24 silos with some 60 allocated to the SS-27; leaving 70 for the new ICBM. How many SS-18 “silos” are left in inventory? (some 58 SS-18 missiles are operational now).
I’m sure we can begin again the often debate, “does Russia really need this new ICBM”? and “are multi-warhead ICBMs only “targets” in today’s security world”?
Frank Shuler
USA
Nothing much is happening there. One thing is certain - it is not going to be used in either Bulava or Topol-M/RS-24.
There are some SS-18 silos. I'm sure some SS-19 ones could be used as well.
Hi,
this means that the new ICBM will be definetely liquid fueled, no heavy RT-23 style missile? Was Makeyev also the developer of the solid fueled R-39 SLBM for the Typhoon class?
Martin
Some information on RS-24 was disclosed by Lieutenant General Sergei Karakayev
http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=95284&cid=25
Martin
I found an old reference on Soviet naval ballistic missiles that stated the work on the R-39 missile and the D-19 launch system began in 1971 by NII Mashinostroyeniya (chief designer V. P. Makyeyev) with approval for pre-production in 1973. Zlatoust Machine-Building Plant did the manufacturing.
Is this information correct?
I had made the assumption the new Russian “heavy” ICBM would be liquid-fueled but your point is well taken. The Makyeyev Design Bureau does have some historical solid-fuel missile experience.
Frank Shuler
USA
Another Sineva launch from Ekaterinburg yesterday?
http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=12277
Two launches in a month from the same submarine.
This looks like an error at navy.ru. There are no signs of a launch on May 17th.
AFP also reporting Sineva missle launch, probably based on the above-linked story:
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6570663&c=EUR
I'm certain it's just an error. AFP apparently though the headline "Russia tests missile amid war of words with U.S." is too good to bother about checking the facts.
UPDATE: I should have read it carefully - I thought AFP is reporting on the May 17 story. As it turns out, there was a launch on May 20th. Which makes the Navy.ru story quite interesting - did someone leak it before the actual launch?
I still think AFP went too far with its musings about "a show of force that coincide with diplomatic tensions with the West."