Russian defense ministry postponed the last in 2011 test launch of SLBM Bulava from Nov 28 to a later date, reported RIA Novosti referring to a source in the ministry.
“Final salvo launch of Bulava will be held later. The exact date has not been determined so far” , said the interviewee.
Defense ministry earlier planned to conduct a 2-missile salvo launch and then the missile could have been commissioned along with its standard platform – nuclear-powered ballistic submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky .
As for now, 10 out of 17 test launches have been found successful; the latest one was held on Oct 28, 2011. All launches in the current year were performed by Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered submarine Yury Dolgoruky .
R-30 Bulava (in international contracts – RSM-56, on NATO classification – SS-NX-30) is newest Russian three-stage solid-propellant submarine-based ballistic missile.
The missile is capable to carry 6-10 hypersonic independently targetable nuclear warheads with yield of 100-150 kt each maneuvering in altitude and course. It has low-altitude flight profile.
Bulava was designed by Moscow Thermotechnics Institute. Maximum range is 8,000 km; launch weight is 36.8 tons; three stages; inertial guidance system; payload is 1,150 kg; length in launch container is 12.1 meters; length without warhead is 11.5 meters.
Platforms of Bulava-30 are modernized SSBN Dmitry Donskoy (Project 941UM Akula , on NATO classification – Typhoon ) and Project 955 Borei submarines – SSBN Yury Dolgoruky , SSBN Vladimir Monomakh , and further ones. Totally, it is planned to build eight Borei -class submarines till 2015.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, November 30, 2011;