Newsgroup: it.cultura.militare
Titolo: Interessanti info sul Bulava (nuovo slbm russo)

New Russian SSBN Missile
September 29, 2004: Russia has, in the last two weeks, successfully test
fired the submarine version of its latest ICBM, the Topol-M. The submarine
version is called the Beluva. The missile was fired from the Typhoon class
SSBN (ballistic missile sub) Dmitry Donskoy. This particular sub had just
undergone extensive modernization, and had completed its sea trials in the
first week of September.
The Topol-M entered service in 1998, and the Beluva has been in the works
for several years. Flight testing was expected to take place this year. The
45 ton Topol, Russias first solid fuel ICBM, was first launched in 1985. The
end of the Cold War in 1989, and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991,
delayed ICBM development and production plans. So work was undertaken to
design a larger, more capable and more reliable version of the Topol. This
effort took about ten years. But the resulting 52 ton Topol-M was so
successful, and Russias existing submarine ICBMs so unreliable, that
undertaking the Beluva project was an easy decision. A major problem with
using the Topol-M on a submarine was the missiles length (72 feet.) That's
about fifteen feet longer than Russia's missile submarines can handle. So
the Topol-M technology had to be repackaged to fit into a shorter, but
wider, missile. The Beluva is believed to have the same range as the Topol-M
(about 10,000 kilometers), and carry a 550 kiloton warhead.
The Russians also had to design, manufacture and install new missile
handling equipment for the Beluvas. The new missiles are only installed in
the new Borei class ballistic missile submarines, as well as refurbished
Typhoons. The first of the Borei subs began construction in 1996, but was
delayed for years because of a shortage of money. The first Borei sub will
not be finished until next year, and won't enter service until 2007. Earlier
this year, construction began on the second of six Borei class subs.

Altre info
Russian Designation: Bulava
The Russian SS-NX-30, or Bulava, is an intercontinental-range, submarine
launched, solid propellant ballistic missile. It is a submarine launched
version of the SS-27, which represents the pinnacle of ballistic missile
technology and is currently under development. The SS-27 was developed
shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union and is the first completely
Russian missile design. Current Russian accounts claim it (and therefore the
SS-NX-30) is invulnerable to any modern anti-ballistic missile (ABM)
defenses. Yuriy Solomonov, director of the Moscow Institute of Heat
Technology and designer-general of the Topol family of missiles, has stated
that the SS-27 will be the foundation of the Russian strategic nuclear
arsenal by 2015. In the same way, the SS-NX-30 will doubtlessly be the
foundation of the submarine-launched ballistic missile force.
The SS-27 is currently portrayed as being immune to any ABM defense the
United States can put into being. The missile is capable of making evasive
maneuvers as it approaches the target, enabling it to evade any terminal
phase interceptors. It almost certainly also carries countermeasures and
decoys to increase the chances of its success. The warhead is shielded
against radiation, electromagnetic interference and physical disturbance;
previous missiles could be disabled by detonating a nuclear warhead within
ten kilometers (6 miles). This vulnerability is the basis behind the use of
nuclear ground-based interceptors and the 'Brilliant Pebbles' concept of
placing nuclear mines in orbit, to detonate or damage the missile before it
reaches its target. However, the SS-27 is designed to be able to withstand
nuclear blasts as closer than 500 m, a difficult interception when combined
with terminal phase speed and maneuverability. While the boost phase is the
most vulnerable time for the SS-27, it remains protected. Hidden safely
within missile silos and mobile launchers, a successful boost-phase
interceptor would have to be fired from near or within Russian borders or
from space. The SS-27 is also designed to survive a strike from any laser
technology available, rendering any current space-based laser useless. The
missile highlights the need for considerably more research into missile
defenses, as the United States is currently defenseless while Russia is
protected by a functional defense system.
The SS-27 can currently strike any target within the continental United
States and the placement of SS-NX-30 missiles would enable worldwide
deployment. The placement of such advanced missiles on modern submarines
would make it nearly impossible to successfully prevent a missile launch,
while current ABM technology is insufficient to prevent its successful
impact. As a solid propellant design, it can be maintained on alert for
prolonged periods of time and can launch within minutes of being given the
order. Its confirmed single 550 kT warhead is sufficient for the
depopulation of cities, which combined with its survivability, makes it an
ideal retaliatory weapon. The SS-27 and the SS-NX-30 enables Russia to
guarantee a successful nuclear response.
The SS-27 and the SS-NX-30 also have considerable utility as a first strike
weapon. A successful first strike hinges upon the destruction of the enemy
nuclear force, and these missiles should be capable of this task. Though the
reported accuracy is insufficient for this, current guidance technology
could easily be used to develop this capacity. The accuracy of 350 m CEP
reported is strangely low given previous US and Russian missile designs with
considerably higher accuracy. With a higher accuracy, the single warhead
load would be easily sufficient to destroy a missile silo, but the placement
of Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs) would allow for the
destruction of entire missile groups. The SS-27 design is easily compatible
for MIRVs, though it likely must sacrifice some of its ability to penetrate
ABM defense systems. Solomonov has stated openly that the TEL launched SS-27
will carry four to six warheads along with decoys, which implies the same
capability for the submarine-launched version.
The SS-NX-30 is identical to the SS-27 except for a slight decrease in range
resulting from the conversion for submarine launch. It has a range of 10,000
km (6214 miles) and is reported to be equipped with a 550 kT yield nuclear
warheads. It is reported that up to six MIRVs can be placed at the cost of
removing warhead shielding and decoys, reducing its ability to penetrate ABM
defenses. It uses a Post-Boost Vehicle (PBV) system to deploy its warhead(s)
using a digital inertial navigation system with a GLOSNASS (equivalent to
Global Position Satellite) receiver. This achieves a reported accuracy of
350 m CEP, but this accuracy is lower than is reasonable to believe, given
modern guidance systems and previous US and Russian missiles. The SS-27 has
a launch weight of 47,200 kg with a length of 21.9 m and a maximum width of
1.9 m. It uses a three-stage solid propellant engine.
The development of the SS-27 began in the late 1980s, though it was
redesigned in 1992 as the first totally Russian designed and built missile.
The development of the SS-NX-30, almost identical to the SS-27, was first
reported in 2001. The SS-NX-30 is currently under development and is
expected to enter test launches upon a converted type 941 Akula ('Typhoon')
class nuclear submarine. The Bulava will be fitted aboard the 'Borey' class
nuclear submarines, the first of which is expected to be commissioned in
2006. The first test launch is planned to take place by the end of 2004.
There is little risk of proliferation of SS-NX-30 technology by the
Russians. Despite possible issues with the SS-27, few nations have missile
submarines capable to deploying SS-NX-30 missiles. In addition, the spread
of the technology would undermine the effectiveness of Russian ABM defenses
and leave Russia vulnerable. However, there is the possibility for the
technology to be stolen by China, the only other nation that might have the
capability and need to integrate it.