On August 27, 2011, at 7:20 MSK (03:20 UTC), the Yuri Dolgorukiy submarine of the Project 955 class successfully launched a Bulava missile. The launch was performed from a submerged submarine deployed in the White Sea. It was the first full-range of the missile - the two reported warhead impact areas - at 37N 174E and 29N 175E - were located in the Pacific, at a range of about 8000 and 9000 km from the White Sea respectively.
It was the 16th flight test of the Bulava missile and the second test from the Yuri Dolgorukiy submarine. Previous test took place on 28 June 2011.
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Why is Ria Novosti and RussianSpace.com(by Anatoly Zak)both Russian news outlets continue to advertise Bulava as "two solid boosters topped by a liquid third stage"???? Secondly, does anybody truly know how many warheads "exactly" are there?
It is stated that the normal range of Bulava is 8000 km but the missile has been tested for full-range that is 9000+ km! Is there any difference between full-range i.e. 9000+ km and usual range 8000 km?
Boris, there are 6 warheads. There are photos of Bulava's PBV ("bus") on the web, you can clearly see 6 RV slots.
As for why the media repeats stupid stuff: it's is because they are not competent or just lazy and when everyone keeps repeating the same nonsense, they think it is fact. Hence why Yuri Dolgoruky "has 12 missiles", "it's launchers are sloped", it can "fire while moving" and "the warheads can maneuver hypersonically". And other such nonsense...
Boris - six warheads per rocket (as artjomh said) was also the number officially declared for the Bulava as part of the 2009 pre-START data exchange. ( http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/armscontrol/MOU-Jul2009ex.pdf ) Overstating the number of warheads in such a situation would only put one at a disadvantage - and given the Bulava's very small (by normal Russian standards that is :) ) throwweight, 6 MIRVs is already quite a lot.
We can only speculate regarding yield, but if one assumes that the original Trident I with its 1650kg throwweight -and 8 W76 units- was a good example, then for the Bulava to carry a maximum of 6 100kt warheads as is most commonly stated seems about right.
I gotta thank eveybody for response. It didn't make much sense to me why they would spend all this money on new solid system just to have (still) a liquid upper stage. As for the MIRVs I also think six warheads too much(little yield) but this leads me to a final question for the topic does the RS-24 have the same number of warheads? Secondly is the throwweight greater in the RS-24?
Boris, regarding Bulava, it is possible that the PBV separation motor does use liquid propellant, but the main three stages are definitely solid-fuel (it says so in the START MoUs).
As for RS-24, there is no hard data, but it is postulated that the missile has the same throw-weight as Topol-M (1250 kg) and 3 RVs (~50% of throw-weight).
The K-535 "Yuri Dolgorukiy" of the SSBN project 955 "Borey" ("Kasatka") launched a "Bulava-30" SLBM into the northern Pacific Ocean western of the U.S. Hawaiian Islands (Midway Islands). The missile was launched at 07:20 Moscow Time and the test reentry vehicles reached the impact area at 07:53 after a flight of about 33 minutes over a distance of around 9,300 km according to the staff of the Russian Northern Fleet (http://www.izvestia.ru/news/498708).
The R-30, 3M30, "Bulava-30" SLBM, also known as RSM-56 (START treaties) and SS-NX-32 (U.S. DoD), according to the START I Treaty Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) technical data annex has three stages: two solid-propellant stages with a diameter of 2.00 m and one solid-propellant post-boost propulsion upper stage inside the front section with a diameter of about 0.70 m.
In principle the "Bulava-30" has the same or similar design like the U.S. UGM-133A "Trident II" D5 SLBM, with the main difference that the "Bulava" missile airframe is shorter. A correct and detailed graphic with a longitudinal section of the "Trident II" is available in the internet (http://www.staynehoff.net/trident_lineart_big.jpg). The total length of the "Trident II" assembled missile airframe is 13.56 m (534.0 in) or 15.24 m (600.0 in) with extended aerospike. Maximum first stage diameter is 2.13 m (84.0 in). The front section with nose fairing has a maximum diameter of 2.08 m (82.0 in) and the third solid-propellant upper stage a diameter of 0.81 m (32.0 in). Each of the former 8 Mk-5 MIRVs has a diameter of nearly 0.51 m (20.0 in) with a 455 - 475 kt W-88 thermonuclear warhead.
The "Bulava-30" SLBM is equipped with the reentry body platform G-30.10.010 (корпус платформы Г-30.10.010). The current "Bulava" reentry vehicle body platform or deployment module has 2 body aggregate sections L-30.61.00.000 (корпус агрегатного отсека Л-30.61.00.000). Each body aggregate section has an angle of 120° and can deliver 3 MIRVs with a maximum diameter of 0.50 m. In this configuration the "Bulava-30" is equipped with 6 MIRVs (as declared under the START I Treaty). But theoretically the reentry vehicle body platform can deliver a configuration of 3 body aggregate sections (3 x 120° = 360°) with a maximum number of 9 MIRVs. So the dimensions of the "Trident II" and "Bulava-30" MIRVs are nearly the same.
The "Trident II" has a throw-weight of 2,800 kg for 8 MIRVs and the "Bulava-30" an "initial value" of 1,150 kg for 6 MIRVs. So it is possible that the "Bulava-30" will be equipped with 6 MIRVs for an intercontinental-range and with 9 MIRVs for a medium-/ intermediate-range (maybe for Asian and European targets). A "Borey" SSBN with 16 SLBMs also can launch between 96 and 144 MIRVs. The "Bulava-30" reentry vehicle body platform is vissible with some pictures (http://military.tomsk.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=530&t=1148&start=120) and a tv movie (http://www.1tv.ru/news/economic/173100). On 21 March 2011 the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, the producer of the "Bulava-30" SLBM (http://premier.gov.ru/eng/events/news/14545/).
Павел!
Прошу прощения,что не на английском. Хотел бы сделать замечание насчет "жидкостных ступеней" на РС-24 и "Булаве".
Во-первых,основной принцип фактического основателя школы МИТа А.Д. Надирадзе был таков-"Никаких жидкостей на борту!". И действительно:"Темп-2С","Пионер","Пионер-УТТХ","Тополь","Тополь-М"-везде ступени разведения твердотопливные. Нет оснований предполагать,что для РС-24 и "Булавы" что-то изменилось.
Во-вторых,у моряков были и есть дополнительные резоны иметь чисто твердотопливную БРПЛ. Пример:в сентябре 1991 г. при подготовке к учебному пуску БРПЛ Р-39 с борта ракетоносца ТК-17, во время наддува баков ступени разведения произошел взрыв. Трагедии, подобной той, что случилась в 1986 г. с ракетоносцем К-219, удалось избежать лишь в силу конструктивных особенностей кораблей проекта 941. Ракета "Барк" к этому времени уже была фактически создана, кардинальные изменения вносить было поздно. Однако когда "Барк" почил в бозе, и началось согласование позиций по новой ракете, военные, по ряду сведений, настояли на чисто твердотопливной БРПЛ,благо что это совпадало и с позицией МИТа.
Максим: Да, все правильно. Я не знаю откуда пошли разговоры про жидкостную ступень.
То что у Булавы твердотопливный автобус недвусмысленно написано в статье от ФЦДТ «Союз» по поводу юбилея МИТа
http://www.oborona.ru/includes/periodics/defense/2011/0418/13035997/detail.shtml
Накопленный ФЦДТ «Союз» и МИТ опыт был использован при создании комплекса «Тополь-М», принятого на вооружение в 2000 г. Для ДУ маршевых ступеней были разработаны высокоэнергетические топлива на основе мощного взрывчатого вещества октогена. Для ДУ специального назначения создано более 10 зарядов оригинальной конструкции, а для двигателя боевой ступени разработан заряд на основе уникального твердого топлива, позволяющего обеспечить глубокое регулирование тяги. Созданы корпуса типа «кокон» из композиционного материала на основе арамидного волокна с повышенными прочностными характеристиками. Разработан новый ПАД минометного старта.
В настоящее время ФГУП «ФЦДТ «Союз» завершается отработка зарядов и корпусов маршевых ступеней, двигателей специального назначения и ПАД минометного старта перспективного комплекса морского базирования. Для этого комплекса разработано пятое поколение топлив на активных связующих: высокоэнергетическое – для маршевых ступеней и низкотемпературное – для ДВИГАТЕЛЯ ГЛУБОКОГО РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЯ.
PS Павел, исправь в хронологии запусков "Булавы" ляп, First test from the White Sea. Оно все были from the White Sea.
Gradient: Спасибо. Таблицу исправил.
Кстати всем интересующимся-если набрать в гугле "forums.airbase.ru проект 941", то по ссылке на соответствующую ветку форума последним по времени комментом выложено отличное хай-рез фото пуска "Булавы". Насколько известно-первое из опубликованных в таком разрешении.
З.Ы.Надеюсь,после комментов этой ветки домыслы о жидкостном "автобусе" "Булавы" исчезнут,аки дым)))
Maxim: Thank you. Here is the direct link to the Bulava photo (I hope it works for everyone): http://balancer.ru/forum/punbb/attachment.php?item=239431. Apparently it's the October 7, 2010 launch.
Hello!
Is it true that the SSBN "Yury Dolgoruky" will be deployed to the Pacific Fleet later in 2011?
If so, is this for further trials or for a permanent deployment in order to strengthen the aging Pacific SSBN fleet?
Cheers
Dear Bernd,
yes, is was reported that the first „Borey“ SSBNs will be deployed in the submarine base of Vilyuchinsk on the Kamchatka Peninsula at 52° 53´ 55´´ N 158° 26´ 20´´ E (see: "Russia´s Pacific Fleet ready to receive Borey class submarines“ , http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20101019/161011788.html).
Maxim
Pavel
Thanks for the great Bulava photo. Much appreciated.
Frank Shuler
USA
thank you, Marino!
But this article from October 2010 just mentioned that the base is prepared for that deployment...moreover there seems to be mistakes in it:
they say that borey has 12 missiles
and they mentioned the fourth ship already under construction, too..
well, we will see whether the first ship will go the Saida Base or to Kamchatka
Cheers
Dear Bernd,
on 26 February 2011 the Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced the deployment of the first "Borey" SSBNs in the Pacific Fleet, and on 5 September 2011 Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that the "Yuri Dolgorukiy" SSBN "…should be delivered to the Pacific Fleet this year." Some sources say that the first 4 "Borey" SSBNs will be deployed in the Pacific Fleet and thereafter 4 submarines in the Northern Fleet. This is what I mean in my comment with: "maybe for Asian and European targets." I believe that this announcements are correct. But before that, the Russian Navy must complete the "Bulava-30" test launch program as a success.
Relating to the "mistakes" of the RIA Novosti article(s), and much others, please read the good comment of Artjomh (30 August 2011). The publications of some news agencies are commented by journalists, which are often hack writers ("Schreiberlinge"). In one article a "Borey" SSBN has 12 SLBMs and in another article 16 missiles. Or in a RIA Novosti info graphic the RS-24 "Yars" has a length of "about 23 m", this is circa 2 meters too much, and the diameter is "about 2 m", instead of 1.86 m.
Best wishes
Marino
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20090803/155710767.html
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091215/157247763.html
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110905/166452107.html
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/02/26/46336306.html
http://dutchintell.com/index.php/russian-navy-news/2-russian-navy-news/448-first-borey-class-nuclear-submarine-to-be-assigned-to-the-pacific-fleet-in-2011
http://russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/yuriy-dolgorukiy-headed-for-pacific-fleet/