Flight altitude of the Bula ballistic missile. Intercontinental ballistic missile "Bulava"

We can say with great confidence that today strategic nuclear forces are one of the main guarantees of the sovereignty of the Russian state. If we compare the current potential of the Russian army with the potential of the armies of NATO countries (quantitative and qualitative), then this comparison will not be in favor of Russia. The Russian Armed Forces are being modernized (a lot of useful things were done in 2019 and are planned for 2019), new types of weapons are being supplied to the troops, but all this is happening extremely slowly and in insufficient quantities. So, at the moment the role nuclear weapons strategic purpose in ensuring Russia's national security is difficult to overestimate. The nuclear arsenal is one of the serious factors that allows Russia to remain one of the most important geopolitical players in the modern world.

Most of Russia got the “nuclear shield” from Soviet Union and today this arsenal is gradually being lost due to the natural cause of aging. Russian strategic nuclear forces require serious updating, and this can be said about all three components of the “nuclear triad.” There is movement in this direction, but the speed of change is clearly insufficient. Especially considering the huge amount of work that needs to be done. Modernization of strategic nuclear forces will require a huge amount of resources, primarily material. In order to solve this truly enormous task, the Russian state will need to mobilize all the managerial and intellectual potential at its disposal.

One of the most important components of Russian strategic forces are intercontinental ballistic missiles mounted on nuclear submarines. This component of the “nuclear triad” is the most dangerous for the enemy, because it has great secrecy and is the least vulnerable to destruction. Underwater nuclear leviathans are capable of secretly maneuvering in the waters of the World Ocean for months and delivering a deadly strike at lightning speed. settlements and enemy military-industrial facilities. Missiles are launched from an underwater position; the submarine can surface among the ice of the Arctic and deliver a lightning-fast dagger strike. It is very difficult to destroy a submarine before the missiles are launched.

Development of nuclear submarine fleet was one of the priority areas in the USSR. No expense was spared on the submarines; the best minds in the country worked on their creation. Soviet submarines were on regular duty in the waters of the World Ocean, ready at any moment to launch a nuclear strike on the enemy.

In 1991, the USSR disappeared, and difficult times came for the submarine fleet. New ships were not laid down, funding was cut, and a serious blow was dealt to the scientific and industrial base. Submarines built during the USSR were aging both morally and physically. Only in 2007 was the first nuclear-powered missile carrier of the new fourth generation launched - the Yuri Dolgoruky submarine. Its main weapon was the R-30 Bulava intercontinental missile.

The development of fourth-generation submarines began in the late 70s of the last century, at the same time their main weapon, a missile system with an intercontinental missile, began to be developed for future ships.

The history of the creation of "Bulava"

Since 1986, the Soviet Union has been developing a new ballistic missile, the Bark, to re-equip Project 941 Akula missile submarines and arm future Project 955 Borei ships. Until 1998, three tests of the new rocket were carried out and all of them were unsuccessful. In addition, in those years the general situation at the enterprises that manufactured the missile system was so bad that they decided to abandon the Bark project. It was necessary to build a new rocket. The order for its construction was taken from the Miass Design Bureau named after. Makeev (which manufactured almost all Soviet sea-based ballistic missiles) and transferred to the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering (MIT). It was there that the Topol and Topol-M missiles were created. This became one of the arguments for transferring the order to developers who had never built missiles for submarines before.

The first test launch of a prototype of the future Bulava rocket took place on September 23, 2004 from the nuclear-powered icebreaker Dmitry Donskoy. The first three test launches went well, but the fourth, fifth and sixth ended in failure. In the first minutes of the flight, the rocket deviated from its course and fell into the sea. During the sixth launch, the rocket's third stage engines failed and it self-destructed. The seventh launch was partially successful: one warhead did not reach the test site in Kamchatka.

The eighth and ninth rocket launches in 2008 were successful, but during the tenth launch the rocket went off course and self-destructed. The eleventh and twelfth rocket launches also ended disappointingly.

On June 28, 2011, the first launch of the Bulava took place from the Yuri Dolgoruky, the standard rocket carrier, and was successful.

In March 2012, Defense Minister Serdyukov announced the successful completion of the Bulava tests; in October of the same year, the missile was put into service. The production of the missile system is carried out by the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Votkinsk Plant, which also produces Topol ballistic missiles.

Description of the Bulava missile

Full information about technical specifications There is no R-30, it is classified.

The R-30 Bulava missile consists of three solid-fuel stages and a warhead breeding stage. There is an opinion that
the block separation stage operates on liquid fuel, however, this is doubtful, since MIT specializes in solid fuel systems. The rocket uses fifth-generation fuel with high energy efficiency.

The body of the rocket stages is made of composite materials, using high-strength aramid fiber, which allows increasing the pressure in the combustion chamber and obtaining higher impulse.

The first stage engine starts immediately after the rocket leaves the water. The first stage engine operates until the fiftieth second of flight. The second stage engines operate until the ninetieth second of flight, after which the third stage engines turn on. Information on the characteristics and design of the combat unit breeding stage is very scarce.

After passing through the zone of blocking nuclear strikes, the nose fairing is separated. The Bulava missile is equipped with an individually targeted multiple warhead, which consists of six (according to other information, ten) warheads. They have small dimensions, a conical shape and high flight speed. Also at the stage of breeding blocks is a complex for overcoming the enemy’s missile defense, but we know nothing about its structure and characteristics. The warheads of the Bulava missile have a high degree of protection against a nuclear explosion.

There is unverified information about changes in the principle of disengagement of warheads of the Bulava missile. Some sources report that the missile's warheads can maneuver freely, and the developers also claim very high guidance accuracy compared to previous Soviet and Russian missiles. In their opinion, it is this factor that will be able to compensate for the relatively low power of the combat units, as critics of the P-30 have repeatedly pointed out. The deflection radius of warheads is no more than 200 meters. The general designer of the rocket, Solomonov, claims that the Bulava has a higher degree of survivability than rockets of previous generations.

The Bulava control system is astro-radio-inertial. The on-board computer complex processes data received from optical-electronic equipment, which during the flight determines the coordinates of the rocket, studying the location of the stars, and also exchanging information with satellites information system GLONASS.

Video about the Bulava rocket

The R-30 "Bulava" missile is launched into flight from a special container installed in the launch silo of a missile carrier, using a powder accumulator.

A salvo launch of all ammunition on board the submarine is possible. The launch is carried out both underwater and surface. According to experts, Russian industry

can produce up to 25 R-30 Bulava missiles per year.

The Bulava missile is often criticized. It is mainly caused by two indicators: insufficient range and modest throwing weight. According to critics, these characteristics of the Bulava correspond to the outdated American Trident missiles of the previous generation.

In 2019, two more Project 955 submarines were laid down, which will be armed with the R-30 missile.

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New details of the planned development of strategic nuclear forces have become known. The development of nuclear delivery vehicles continues, for which this time it is proposed to modernize one of the models recently adopted for service. According to the latest reports of domestic funds mass media, in the foreseeable future an updated version of the R-30 Bulava ballistic missile should appear, differing from the basic version by a significant increase in the main characteristics.

Speculation about the possible modernization of the latest domestic submarine-launched ballistic missile had appeared before, but this time the press revealed possible technical features future improvement of weapons. New information was published on January 23 by the online publication Lenta.ru. From an unnamed source in the domestic defense industry, journalists of the news portal were able to obtain certain information about current plans to modernize missiles.

According to Lenta.ru, the main requirements for the new project relate to increasing the flight range and payload mass. To solve both of these problems, the product body will need to be redesigned to make it larger. As a result, the modernized Bulava will be larger and heavier than the basic version of the missile. The D-30 missile system has a certain potential to fulfill such requirements. In particular, the issue of some changes in the architecture of the complex is being considered in order to increase the space available for placing missiles.

The Lenta.ru source noted that the possibility of increasing the missile without the need to recycle the carrier submarine can be realized by abandoning the use of a transport and launch container. In the existing complex, the missile is transported in a special container, which occupies part of the volume of the silo launcher. Removal of this product, in turn, will increase the size of the accessible shaft.

Increasing the size of the rocket will allow the charges to be increased accordingly solid fuel its engines. Changing the energy parameters of the product will make it possible to increase the flight range to 12 thousand km. At the same time, the payload of the modernized Bulava will be more than twice as high as the corresponding parameter of the base rocket.

Lenta.ru, citing its source, writes that a modernized version of the D-30 missile system in the future may become the main weapon of promising submarine cruisers. At the end of the twenties, the construction and development of strategic submarines of new projects may begin, the main task of which will be to replace outdated ships. In particular, these submarines will be able to replace Project 667BRDM boats, which by that time, due to moral and physical obsolescence, will have lost their potential.

Let us recall that the D-30 strategic missile system with the R-30 Bulava ballistic missile has been developed since the late nineties and was intended to update the naval component of the strategic nuclear forces. Project 955 Borei submarines were considered as carriers of promising missiles. Since the middle of the last decade, new types of missiles have been used in tests carried out using the modernized TK-208 Dmitry Donskoy submarine. After a significant number of test launches, the D-30 missile system with the R-30 missile was put into service. Currently, mass production of missiles is underway and construction of their launch vehicles continues.

According to known data, the R-30 product has a length of about 12 m with a maximum diameter of 2 m. The launch weight is at the level of 38.6 tons. The rocket is built according to a three-stage design and is equipped with solid fuel engines. The throw weight is determined at 1.15 tons, which makes it possible to install up to ten warheads and means of overcoming missile defense on the warhead. The flight range, according to available information, exceeds 8 thousand km.

The standard carriers of the D-30 missile system are submarines of the Borei project. To date, the domestic shipbuilding industry has built and delivered to the fleet three ships of the basic Project 955. The construction of another five submarines of the modernized Project 955A continues. Latest on this moment The keel-laying ceremony for the Borei-class submarine took place at the end of December last year. This year, the launch of one of the Boreev-A should take place, which is planned to be transferred to the fleet in 2018. The series of submarines under construction will be fully delivered to the customer no later than the beginning of the next decade.

The D-30 missile system with the Bulava missile was put into service about three years ago, but, according to some reports, improvements to its various components are still ongoing. In addition, it is planned to create a modernized complex, characterized by higher technical and combat characteristics. The possibility of creating an improved version of the R-30 missile was discussed earlier, even before the completion of work on the basic product, but only now some information about the goals and objectives of such a project has become publicly available.

It should be noted that the emergence of requirements for increasing flight range and throw weight should have been expected earlier. Since the publication of the first characteristics of the future rocket, the Bulava project has been subject to criticism, the main reasons for which were precisely the insufficient level of such characteristics. The use of solid propellant engines in combination with size restrictions has led to a noticeable lag in basic characteristics compared to other domestic weapons for similar purposes. At the same time, it should be taken into account that, for example, the R-29RMU2 “Sineva” missile, capable of flying at a range of up to 11.5 thousand km, differs from the R-30 in its greater length (14.8 m versus 12 m) and other launch weight (40 t versus 38 t).

According to the latest data, the modernized Bulava will have to obtain higher performance by reworking the design upward. It is known that the R-30 missile in its existing configuration is supplied in a transport and launch container with a length of more than 12 m and a diameter of more than 2 m. Such a product is installed in the silo of the carrier submarine and performs the functions of a launcher. Obviously, abandoning the TPK will make it possible to increase the dimensions of the missile itself without the need to rework the launch silo installed on the submarine. This, in turn, will provide a less complex modernization of the carrier, and will also increase the internal volumes of the rocket, allowing it to accommodate all the required equipment.

However, it can be assumed that such a modernization of the D-30 complex will not be a very simple task for the designers. Launching a rocket from a launch silo without a transport and launch container will require the most serious reworking of the existing components of the carrier submarine, ensuring the required strength and performance characteristics. At the same time, due to the desire to maintain the overall dimensions of the complex as a whole, the project will face noticeable limitations.

The need to create an enlarged rocket with new launch principles, as well as a launcher of a different design, actually leads to the emergence of a completely new project. Indeed, such a missile system, actively using components and assemblies of the existing one, will be a direct development of the serial D-30, but at the same time can be considered completely new development. In addition, the complexity of creating such a project can lead to a corresponding expenditure of time, effort and money.

It should be taken into account that the Lenta.ru source noted the abandonment of the TPK as a considered option for the future modernization of the missile system. This may mean that the development of the Bulava project can be carried out in other ways. Some of them make it possible to provide an increase in characteristics without changing the dimensions of the products. In particular, solid propellant engines with higher thrust parameters, more advanced controls, etc. can be used for this. If the missile is successfully modernized using this method, it will be possible to do without a major upgrade of the launch vehicles, which, in particular, will ensure the compatibility of the improved missiles and existing or under construction launch vehicles.

It is necessary to take into account that the latest about the possible modernization of the D-30 submarine missile system with the R-30 Bulava missile can only speak with some certainty about the very fact of the existence of plans to update the weapons of submarines. Only fragmentary information is provided about the methods and means of modernizing equipment, and in addition, the development paths of the complex are indicated as being considered by specialists. Thus, as the modernization project progresses, current news may completely lose its relevance due to changes in approaches and methods.

However, recent reports reveal another important issue. They show that the defense industry and the military department, having created new sample strategic weapons, do not intend to stop there. It is planned to continue work in the field of submarine missile systems, which could result in an improved version of the Bulava missile in the foreseeable future. Most of the details of the new project, as well as the timing of its implementation, have not yet been specified. However, even in the face of such a lack of information, it is clear that the development of strategic nuclear forces will continue.

Based on materials from sites:
https://lenta.ru/
http://rg.ru/
http://svpressa.ru/
http://tass.ru/

R-30 3M30 "Bulava-30" (RSM-56 - for use in international treaties; SS-NX-30 - according to NATO classification; "Bulava-M", "Bulava-47") - the latest Russian solid-fuel ballistic missile deployed on submarines. The rocket is being developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering (which previously developed the Topol-M ground-based rocket) under the leadership of Yu. S. Solomonov. Estimated date of adoption: 2009.

History of creation

The decision in favor of developing the Bulava missile was made in 1998 by the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Vladimir Kuroyedov, after three unsuccessful tests of the Bark strategic weapons complex, which was more than 70% complete. As a result, the Security Council of the Russian Federation abandoned the development of the Miass Design Bureau named after. Makeev (the developer of all Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missiles - SLBMs, with the exception of the R-31) and transferred the development of a new naval strategic missile to the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering. The arguments in favor of this decision were the desire to unify sea and land solid fuel missiles. Opponents of this decision pointed to the dubious advantages of unification, MIT’s lack of experience in creating sea-based missiles, and the need to remake the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear submarine, which has been under construction since 1996 at the Severodvinsk machine-building enterprise Sevmash and was originally designed for the Bark.

The production of Bulava missiles will be launched at the Votkinsk Plant Federal State Unitary Enterprise, where Topol-M missiles are already being produced. According to the developers, structural elements both missiles in high degree unified.

As of December 2008, the question of the degree of unification with Topol-M came to light, since due to various improvements and fine-tuning during pilot tests, the number of common parts is steadily decreasing.

After successful tests on June 29, 2007, a decision was made on serial production of the most mature components and parts of the rocket.

Tests

According to reports in " Rossiyskaya newspaper"May 24, 2004 at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant (part of the MIT corporation) during testing solid fuel engine there was an explosion.

On September 23, 2004, from the modernized nuclear submarine TK-208 “Dmitry Donskoy” of Project 941UM (the submarine is based at the Sevmashpredpriyatie in Severodvinsk), a successful “throw” launch of a weight-dimensional mock-up of the “Bulava” missile was carried out from an underwater state. The test was carried out to check the possibility of its use from submarines. In the press, this launch is considered to be the first in a row, although only a mass and dimensional mock-up of the rocket was launched.

The second test launch of a real launch vehicle was successfully carried out on September 27, 2005 at 17:20 Moscow time. The missile, launched from the White Sea from the nuclear submarine "Dmitry Donskoy" (Project 941 of the "Typhoon" class, tail number TK-208) from the surface at the Kura test site in Kamchatka, covered more than 5.5 thousand kilometers in about 14 minutes, after which The missile warheads successfully hit their intended targets at the test site.

The third test launch was carried out on December 21, 2005 at 08:19 Moscow time, also from the nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy. The launch was carried out from an underwater position at the Kura training ground, the missile successfully hit the target.

The fourth test launch from the nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy on September 7, 2006 ended in failure. The ICBM was launched from an underwater position towards the battlefield in Kamchatka. After flying for several minutes after launch, the rocket deviated from its course and fell into the sea.

The fifth test launch of the missile from the nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy, which took place on October 25, 2006, also ended unsuccessfully. After several minutes of flight, the Bulava deviated from its course and self-destructed, falling into the White Sea.

The sixth test launch of the missile was carried out on December 24, 2006 from the nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy (surface position) and again ended unsuccessfully. The failure of the engine of the third stage of the rocket led to its self-destruction 3-4 minutes into the flight.

The seventh test launch took place on June 28, 2007. The launch was carried out in the White Sea from the nuclear submarine "Dmitry Donskoy" from an underwater position and was partially successful - the third warhead did not reach the target.

The next test launch was supposed to take place in November 2007. However, the tests did not take place, and no official information about the reasons for their cancellation was announced. This circumstance gave rise to a number of people to begin spreading false rumors about the fifth consecutive unsuccessful launch of the Bulava.

Eighth launch - September 18, 2008. According to the Interfax news agency, “a Russian strategic submarine missile cruiser launched a Bulava missile from an underwater position at 18:45 Moscow time on Thursday. At 19:05, the training units reached their target in the area of ​​the battlefield of the Kura training ground. “Telemetric information about the launch and flight of the missile is currently being processed, but now we can conclude that the launch and flight of the missile took place as usual,” said a representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense.” However, soon, at the suggestion of the newspaper Kommersant, which referred to an anonymous source in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, information was disseminated that the launch was only partially successful. According to the publication’s interlocutor, until the last stage the tests were successful. “The active part of the missile’s trajectory passed without failures, hit the target area, the warhead separated normally, but the stage for disengaging the warheads was unable to ensure their separation,” he told the newspaper. Thus, as he explained, in combat conditions the missile warheads would not have worked due to the peculiarities of the Bulava device. At the same time, some experts expressed the opinion that in this launch, along with the tests of the Bulava launch vehicle itself, which worked fully normally, parallel tests of a new modification of the missile warhead could have been carried out, which, presumably, turned out to be unsuccessful. The Russian Ministry of Defense refrained from making any additional official comments in connection with the rumors that arose.

Ninth launch. Finally, on November 28, 2008, the Bulava launch took place completely as usual. The strategic nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday. latest generation“Bulava,” assistant to the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, captain of the first rank Igor Dygalo, told RIA Novosti. According to a source in the Ministry of Defense, the missile test program has been fully completed for the first time. “The launch was carried out from an underwater position as part of the state flight testing program for the complex. The trajectory parameters were worked out as normal. The combat units successfully arrived at the Kura training ground in Kamchatka,” Dygalo said.

Tenth launch. Produced on December 23, 2008 from the nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy. After testing the first and second stages, the rocket entered an abnormal mode of operation, deviated from the calculated trajectory and self-destructed, exploding in the air. Thus, this launch became the fourth (taking into account only partially successful ones - the sixth) unsuccessful in a row out of nine carried out.

The State Research Center "Design Bureau named after Makeev" proposed to resume development in 2008 at its base.

In 2008, JSC PA Sevmash carried out repairs and completed modernization according to Project 941UM of the Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine used for testing.

T T X

Starting weight - 36.8 tons.

The rocket is three-stage, all stages are solid propellant.

The Bulava sea-based strategic missile is capable of carrying 6 individually targetable nuclear units. Total throwing weight 1150 kg.

It also has a system for overcoming enemy missile defenses.

Not everything is simple with Bulava nuclear warheads either. According to some reports, the principle of their breeding has changed. Previously, a ballistic missile launched blocks into the target area and “scattered” them over it. On the Bulava they applied the “bunch of grapes” principle. The vehicle will be able to individually “deliver” warheads to several targets at once. Knowing the accuracy of the Topol-M complex hitting the target (the Bulava is created by the same design bureau as the Topol-M - Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering), we can state that the Bulava will have this indicator no less, but This means that very high weapon efficiency will be achieved.

The range is at least 8 thousand km.

Comparative characteristics of ICBMs

The promising version of the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile for the Russian Navy will differ somewhat from the one adopted for service large sizes, starting weight and increased payload. Lenta.ru reported this on January 23, citing a source in the defense industry.

It is noted that the main requirement for the missile is to increase the flight range to 12 thousand kilometers and the capabilities of the missile defense penetration system by increasing the length and diameter of the missile, which makes it possible to make an existing reserve in the design of the D-30 complex. At the same time, the 3M30 R-30 Bulava-30 missile should remain compatible with the launchers of Project 955 Borei and 955A Borei-A nuclear submarine cruisers.

“In particular, we are considering the option of abandoning the TPK - transport and launch container,” the publication’s interlocutor noted, adding that the new missile can be used to equip promising missile carriers, which in the late 2020s - early 2030s should replace the modernized submarines of the project 667BDRM built in the second half of the 1980s.

Let us recall that the Russian solid-fuel missile “Bulava” is intended to arm the nuclear submarine strategic missile carriers of the “Borey” project (each with 16 missile silos), of which three are included in the fleet and five are under construction.

However, the SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) is still “semi-ready”. The R-30 was put into service (according to some sources, in October 2012, according to others, in January 2013), but checks of its combat readiness are more like tests that have not been completed to this day. For example, on September 27, 2016, the Yuri Dolgoruky SSBN carried out the 25th and 26th experimental launches of two Bulava missiles at the Kamchatka Kura test site from the White Sea. As the press service of the Ministry of Defense reported then, the warheads of the first missile were completed full cycle flight program and successfully hit the specified targets at the test site, and the second missile self-destructed after completing the first stage of the flight.

According to some reports, then salvo firing was carried out from a depth of 50 meters and in strong sea conditions (6-7 points). But even if we assume that the purpose of the shooting was to practice launching missiles in difficult conditions, there is still no doubt that the mission was disrupted - the warheads of the second missile did not reach the test site.

Let us note that there have been reports in the media more than once that there is an alternative project to the long-suffering development of the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering (MIT). We are talking about the alleged resumption of the “GRC named after. Makeev" work on the Bulava-45 missile, a project based on the Bark SLBM, which seems to be loaded into the silo of a submarine without a TPK.

What could be the reason for the message about the future modernization of the rocket, given the problems with the flight stability of the Bulava that have not yet been 100% resolved?

“Firstly, it is not clear how you can change the size of a sea rocket: they are strictly limited by the size of the shaft, which, in turn, is limited by the size of the submarine,” notes Deputy Director of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis Alexander Khramchikhin. “At the same time, there is nowhere to go from this missile - three Project 955 submarines are already in service and five are under construction, and an alternative missile with the same dimensions is extremely expensive.

Secondly, for the Bulava SLBM, the successor to the Topol ICBM, a land scheme was implemented: the missile is loaded into the silo along with the container. In general, it has long become clear that the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, specializing in land-based ICBMs, should not have developed sea-based strategic missiles. But the job is done and now, apparently, we will have to sort this out for a very long time.

— “Bulava”, frankly speaking, is an unusable missile. And I’m far from the only one who holds this opinion,” says Corresponding Member of RARAN, Captain 1st Rank Reserve Konstantin Sivkov. — Firstly, it was put into service when the required level of reliability was not achieved. In the USSR, missiles were accepted into service if out of 20 launches only two or three were unsuccessful.

Secondly, they have already suffered so much over this missile that the throw weight (1150 kilograms) and flight range (9300 kilometers) of the Bulava, in fact, corresponds to the R-29 missile, which was adopted by the Soviet Navy in the 70s . At the same time, the R-30 is quite heavy: the starting weight is about 37 tons.

The advantage of the Bulava is the missile’s flight path with a reduced active section. But taking into account the fact that the US anti-missile system is unlikely to operate in the area of ​​possible nuclear submarine firing, this advantage is very relative.

Another advantage of the R-30 is that it is solid fuel, that is, safer during transportation and maintenance than liquid fuel. As for the rest, the Bulava is inferior in all respects to the R-29RMU2.1 Liner missile of the GRTs im. Makeev”, adopted for service in 2014 for the re-equipment of ships of projects 667BDRM “Dolphin” and 667BDR “Squid” and with a combat range of 11,500 kilometers (depending on the load) and a throw weight of 2,800 kilograms.

“SP”: — Information about modernization may be associated with attempts to correct the current situation, and not with supposed work for the future?

— It has long been clear that in the current conditions something needs to be done with the rocket for Project 955 ships. Because the unstable behavior of the P-30 in flight as part of experimental launches is one thing, real shooting in wartime is another, where mission failure and “missile self-destruction” are unacceptable.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more advanced rocket based on the existing dimensions. This is possible by creating high-energy fuel and increasing the weight of SLBMs. By and large, it is necessary to increase the flight range while maintaining and slightly improving the accuracy of the hit, and also to place it on the missile or large quantity warheads of the same caliber, or more powerful warheads. I hope that the State Research Center named after. Makeeva".

"SP": - Refusal of TPK is really one of possible solutions Problems?

— Considering the features of the complex, in my opinion, this is a bad option for loading a more advanced rocket into the silo. It is important for Bulava that the silo can accept a missile from a TPK. Why? The container provides secrecy and protection for the R-30 during transportation and maintains a certain climatic regime (temperature, humidity, etc.). That is, in any case, you won’t give it up at all—it’s just that the transport container will have to be removed immediately before loading the rocket into the silo. But the main problem is different. During a mortar launch of a rocket, the launcher (PU) bears a colossal load, and the TPK here is a means of protecting it. After firing, the container can either be thrown away or repaired, but without it during firing, the launcher will not last long.

— There has been talk about the Bulava-M for a long time, but it is unlikely that its dimensions will be changed; rather, it will be modernized in the future software, energy,” says a researcher at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, Chief Editor magazine "Arms Export" Andrey Frolov. - It is unknown at what stage it is, but it is clearly far from testing. Most likely, the missile exists only within the framework of design and development work - that is, drawings or at the stage of developing tactical and technical specifications. There is not enough money for everything, a reduction in the military budget is just around the corner, and we still need to bring to life the heavy Sarmat ICBM, the Barguzin combat railway missile system, and the RS-26 complex with the Rubezh missile.

“SP”: — With an increase in the range of the unstable flying Bulava, is there a risk that there will be even more problems with its behavior in flight?

- Maybe. Here main question, to which the answer has not yet been given - are the problems with the Bulava related to design or manufacturing flaws? If the problem is in production (and this cannot be discounted, it’s not just the Bulava that is falling in our country), then the problems can be solved by increasing local control. But the reasons may also lie in constructive mistakes, which are the most difficult to correct. And the risk of this is quite high, given the history of the Bulava and the fact that it was made by people who did not have much experience in designing naval missiles.

On November 28, in the Barents Sea, the strategic nuclear submarine Alexander Nevsky launched from an underwater position at the Kura test site in Kamchatka.

What is a rocket?

"Bulava" (SS NX 30 - according to NATO classification) is a Russian three-stage sea-based solid-propellant missile developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering. Installed on Project 955 Borey boats

A special feature of the missile is that it is equipped with hypersonic warheads, allowing it to maneuver in altitude and course. A missile in the active phase can evade the anti-missile missile.

Manufacturer: Votkinsk plant.

The number of warheads is from 6 to 10 with a total mass of 1.15 tons.

The range is 8 thousand km.

Launch weight - about 36.8 tons.

Throwing weight - 1150 kg.

Length - 12.1 m.

Maximum diameter - 2 m.

The maximum flight range is from 8 to 9 thousand km.

The engines of the first and second stages are solid fuel. The third stage is equipped with a liquid engine.

All Bulava components are produced in Russia, which guarantees independence from the global political situation.

"Bulava" should form the basis of a promising grouping of Russian naval strategic nuclear forces until 2040-2045.

Tests of the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile. Photo: RIA News

Launch history

Testing of the rocket began in 2004. A total of 22 test launches of the Bulava were carried out, 13 of them were considered successful.

May 24, 2004 - an explosion occurred during testing of the solid fuel engine of the Bulava rocket at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. On test bench The rocket engine exploded.

On September 23, 2004, a training launch of a mock-up of the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully carried out from the heavy strategic nuclear-powered submarine cruiser of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy "Dmitry Donskoy". The test was conducted to test the possibility of using ICBMs from submarines.

On September 27, 2005, a successful test launch was carried out from the White Sea from a surface position at the Kura test site (Kamchatka region). In approximately 14 minutes, the missile covered more than 5.5 thousand kilometers, the missile hit all intended targets at the test site.

On September 7, 2006, the Bulava was launched from an underwater position in the direction of Kamchatka from the cruiser Dmitry Donskoy. The launch was unsuccessful. Due to a glitch in the program at the second stage of testing, the rocket deviated from the specified course and fell into the sea without reaching the target.

On October 25, 2006, a rocket was launched unsuccessfully, which after several minutes of flight deviated from its course, self-destructed and fell into the White Sea.

On December 24, 2006, an unsuccessful test launch of a missile from a surface position was carried out. A few minutes into the flight, the rocket self-destructed due to a third-stage engine failure.

On June 28, 2007, a partially successful launch was carried out in the White Sea; the third warhead did not reach its target.

On November 28, 2008, the strategic submarine cruiser Dmitry Donskoy of the Northern Fleet successfully launched a missile from the White Sea at the Kura test site in Kamchatka.

On December 23, 2008, the test launch of the Bulava sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile from the nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy ended unsuccessfully. The rocket self-destructed, exploding in the air.

On December 9, 2009, the launch ended in failure; a technical failure occurred during the operation of the third stage.

On October 7, 2010, the launch took place as usual. The missile hit all specified targets at the Kura training ground.

On October 29, 2010, the launch from the White Sea to the Kura test site took place as usual. The Bulava combat units hit the target within the prescribed time limit.

On June 28, 2011, the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear submarine was successfully launched for the first time from the standard carrier. The missile warheads were delivered to the designated area in Kamchatka.

On August 27, 2011, as part of tests for the maximum flight range of the rocket, a launch was successfully carried out from the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear submarine.

On October 28, 2011, a successful launch was carried out from the nuclear submarine “Yuri Dolgoruky” from the White Sea along the Kura test site.

On December 23, 2011, the rocket launch was completed successfully from the nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruky. The launch was a salvo, two missiles, the warheads reached the Kura training ground.

On September 6, 2013, the launch from the Alexander Nevsky nuclear submarine in the White Sea ended unsuccessfully. The rocket left the launch container, but in the second minute of the flight there was a failure in the second stage control system, the engines turned off, and the rocket fell into the Arctic Ocean.

On September 10, 2014, it was successfully launched from the nuclear submarine “Vladimir Monomakh” in the White Sea at the Kura test site in Kamchatka.

On October 29, 2014, a rocket was successfully launched at the Kura test site in Kamchatka from the nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruky.

On November 28, in the Barents Sea, the strategic nuclear submarine Alexander Nevsky successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile Bulava from an underwater position at the Kura test site in Kamchatka.

Project 955 “Borey” (according to NATO codification SSBN “Borei” or “Dolgorukiy” after the launch of the lead ship) is a series of Russian nuclear submarines of the fourth generation “strategic missile submarine cruiser” class. The lead ship, Yuri Dolgoruky, is part of the Northern Fleet, the second, Alexander Nevsky, is part of the Pacific Fleet, and the third, Vladimir Monomakh, has passed state tests and is being prepared for transfer to the fleet. The fourth - "Prince Vladimir" - and the fifth - "Prince Oleg" - are under construction. The Borei class boats carry 16 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles, each equipped with 6-10 warheads, for a total of 96 to 160 warheads.

Borey - in Greek mythology god of the stormy north wind, son of Astraeus (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn).

The active flight segment is the flight segment of the aircraft in which the main engine, usually a rocket engine, operates. The speed, angle of inclination to the horizon and altitude of the rocket at the end of the active section determine its flight range.