Friday, January 09, 2009

Bulava

IOC: 2009
Total Production: 36

Also Known As
Bulava-30
Bulava-M (production designation)
R-30
RSM-56
SS-N-28 (Mistaken missile designation)
SS-N-30 (NATO designation)
SS-NX-30 (NATO development designation)

Origin
Russia

Applications
Project 941
Project 955

Derived from:
Topol-M

Description: The solid-fuel Bulava-30 ballistic missile, R-30 Russian industrial code and SS-N-27? or SS-N-28? NATO designations, has been reported as a naval variant of Russian Topol-M road-mobile Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) or at least a new development levering its technology. Equipped with Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs) they will capable of destroying four to six or ten targets relying upon the number of nuclear warheads assigned to each missile. The missile's range is 8,000 kilometers and can be equipped with 10 nuclear warheads according to Russian press. It is likely that some kind of maneuverable warhead technology has been or will be procured for Bulava as it was done for Topol-M.

The three new Borey-class ballistic submarines (SSBNs) expected to be operational by 2010 will carry up to 12 of these missiles each. Testing of the Bulava Submarine Launch Ballistic Missile (SLBM) has been carried out on a modified Typhoon-class submarine from 2003 though 2006. The first Bulava ballistic missiles are expected to enter service by the end of 2007 when the first Borey submarine is projected to be fully operational and serviceable. The first test launch occurred on 27 September 2005 and the second one was executed underwater in the White December 2005. Both launches were conducted successfully. The Moscow Heat Engineering Institute is the responsible for the R-30/Bulava missile complex development.

In early 2007, it was made public that Bulava had been successful in the first four launch tests and failed in the following three in a row leaving the missile's future on hold pending the outcome of two Russian special investigation commissions. According to Pravda February 2007, Russian military expect to upgrade the Bulava missile system to overcome design shortfalls that may be causing the launch test failures. Thereafter, the Russian military will need from 12 to 14 successful launch tests to commission the new strategic missile system. All in all, it is likely that Bulava will not be available for deployment on Borey-class submarines in 2007.

Specifications
Number of Warheads: 10 6 to 10 MIRVs yelding 150 to 100 KT

Dimensions: Diameter 2 m, Length 12.1 m

Weights: Max Weight 36.8 t, Warhead 1,150 kg (2,535 lb)

Performance: CEP 350 m (1,148 ft), Max Range 8,000 km (4,320 nm)

Yield: 1,000 kiloton 100 KT x 10 nukes

Other: Number of Stages 3

Operators

Russia / 36

Internet Resources
english.pravda.ru

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, December 20, 2008

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