Russia to Commission New Submarine Missile in 2008

A new Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile is expected to be commissioned next year following a final round of testing, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, June 29).

“We have no doubt that the testing of the Bulava-M missile system will be completed successfully,” said Russian navy chief Adm. Vladimir Masorin.  “We have no other alternatives.  We hope that the missile will be adopted by the navy in 2008.”

Masorin said the navy would conduct test launches of the Bulava missile twice more in 2007 and finish testing next year. 

The missile failed in three consecutive tests in 2006, endangering Moscow’s plans to commission new submarines scheduled to begin entering service in 2008, AP reported.  Three new Borei-class nuclear submarines now being built are designed to carry the new missile.

A successful test in June paved the way for Russian officials to approve manufacturing of the missile’s components in large numbers, Masorin said.

“The manufacture of the units and stages that proved reliable will begin, and by the time the new strategic nuclear submarine … is commissioned, we will have a new missile,” Masorin said (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, Aug. 5).

Four of six flight tests of the Bulava-M in the last two years have ended in failure, the London Telegraph reported.  Russian journalist Ivan Safronov determined that a 2006 test heralded as a success had in fact failed.  Safronov fell to his death from an apartment building in March.

The missile was designed to carry six individually targeted nuclear warheads for a range of up to 6,200 miles, and would potentially be able to overcome missile defenses.  Russia has strenuously objected to U.S. plans to deploy missile defense installations in Poland and the Czech Republic (see GSN, July 30; Adrian Blomfield, London Telegraph, Aug. 6).

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