Bulava SLBM Thread:

Viktor wrote:I can remember only one event in the history of mankind of such magnitude ......
Russian Navy intends to fire all 16 SLBMs at from one shooting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Behemoth

K-84 and K-407 fired all 16 R-29RM misiles in one salvo (1989 and 1991)

Yup, thats the one

Hold your horses.
I am not sure they are going to launch 16 missiles.

I read and re-read the quoted article: It says it will launch a missile while having 16 on-board. Unlike previous launches that had only one missile loaded on board.

It does not mean it will launch all the missiles.

Viktor wrote:

Mike E wrote:That one also looks solid-fuelled, so the other one must be correct.

Only Bulavas 3rd stage is liquid. First two are solid fueled.

Bulava doesn't have a liquid stage.

As I have mentioned before, the story about a liquid third stage was a bit of journalism that had its origin in a confusion with another missile, probably with one of the Makeev's competitors with the MIT Bulava.

Also, the liquid propellant 3rd stage in the other missile, just like the third stage in the R-29RM missile family, is not a conventional third stage; it is an unconventional stage that is combined with the PBV. This unconventional third stage, after jettisoning only its main engine, becomes the bus.

TheArmenian wrote:Hold your horses.
I am not sure they are going to launch 16 missiles.

I read and re-read the quoted article:  It says it will launch a missile while having 16 on-board. Unlike previous launches that had only one missile loaded on board.

It does not mean it will launch all the missiles.

 I doubt that they would waste the money on 16 Bulavas like that, so you are most likely correct.

Mike E wrote:

TheArmenian wrote:Hold your horses.
I am not sure they are going to launch 16 missiles.

I read and re-read the quoted article:  It says it will launch a missile while having 16 on-board. Unlike previous launches that had only one missile loaded on board.

It does not mean it will launch all the missiles.

 I doubt that they would waste the money on 16 Bulavas like that, so you are most likely correct.

It turns out you are correct! It will be a launch with 16 missiles onboard.

Russian Defense Ministry confirms second Bulava launch in October

George1 wrote:Russian Defense Ministry confirms second Bulava launch in October

Good luck with this.

Aside from that, is there any plans or concept to give Bulava an "alternate role" Like say as Anti Ship Ballistic Missile or as a launcher of high precision conventional warhead.

I heard US, at some point considered their trident to carry high precision conventional warhead as a part of their Global Strike program.

Stealthflanker wrote:

George1 wrote:Russian Defense Ministry confirms second Bulava launch in October

Good luck with this.

Aside from that, is there any plans or concept to give Bulava an "alternate role" Like say as Anti Ship Ballistic Missile or as a launcher of high precision conventional warhead.

I heard US, at some point considered their trident to carry high precision conventional warhead as a part of their Global Strike program.

It is way too large to be an anti-ship BM, the Iskander would be the best candidate for such a role. As for "conventional warheads", that probably wouldn't happen becuase the launch would be reminiscent of a good ole' nuke launch, and could lead to a return nuclear strike... - Putin himself said this.

That is what Putin dismissed, sating that it *could* be mistaken for a regular ICBM.

Stealthflanker wrote:

George1 wrote:Russian Defense Ministry confirms second Bulava launch in October

Good luck with this.

Aside from that, is there any plans or concept to give Bulava an "alternate role" Like say as Anti Ship Ballistic Missile or as a launcher of high precision conventional warhead.

I heard US, at some point considered their trident to carry high precision conventional warhead as a part of their Global Strike program.

Bulava as an AshBM!!    
When i think about it this is the only thing that i can think of.

Great News guys! Yet another succesful test of Bulava completed, and it fufilled all flight parameters:

Bulava missile launched from nuclear sub in Russia

The missile was launched from the Barents Sea towards the Kura testing range in Russia's Far East



MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Strategic nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruky has launched a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile from the Barents Sea towards the Kura testing range in Kamchatka, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry told TASS on Wednesday.

"The missile was launched from the submerged position," a spokesman said. "The parameters of the flight trajectory have been fulfilled as required. Data control shows the warheads of the missile reached the Kura testing facility successfully.

Bulava missile launched from nuclear sub in Russia

Congrats to Bulava designers.

Looks like the worst is far behind us!

ICBM Bulava test-launch from nuclear submarine maximum close to normal operation

Two Launches of “Bulava” Scheduled for 2015

We're still need way moar launches until all the problem sorted out.

Stealthflanker wrote:We're still need way moar launches until all the problem sorted out.

Not really... Clearly what they've done for the past few missiles has worked, though more testing is always welcome.

Hopefully it will end successfully

Source: the final test launch of a new ICBM based on "Yarsa" hold in December

Bulava launch from Nevsky sub was successful.

zg18 wrote:Bulava launch from Nevsky sub was successful.

Just great

Bulava inter-continental ballistic missile test-launched from nuc submarine in Barents Sea

I swear they launch one every weekend... Not like that is a bad thing! 

video footage:

After lot of Time Sweat and Pain Bulava is a success

Congratulations to Engineer who worked tirelessly to make it happen

“Bulava” to launch at the Okhotsk Sea for the first time in September


The next launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile “Bulava” which is scheduled for the end of September, will be made for the first time fromthe Sea of Okhotsk on the ground “Chizh” in the Arkhangelsk region, the Interfax-Military News Agency informed, citing a source in the General Staff of the Navy
“Ballistic missile submarine K-550 “Alexander Nevsky” will perform his third launch of ” Bulava” in the last days of September,” the source said.

Russia to conduct several Bulava launches by end of 2015

The source did not mention which Borey-class submarine would conduct the upcoming launches
Bulava ballistic missile

ST. PETERSBURG, July 1. /TASS/. Russia will conduct several launches of Bulava ballistic missiles by the end of this year, a source at the Navy's general staff told TASS on Wednesday.

"Several launches are being planned by the end of the year," the source said.

He did not mention which Borey-class submarine would conduct the upcoming launches.

The Borey-class ballistic-missile submarines are to become the backbone of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent for the next few decades. Eight such submarines are expected to be built up to 2020, and three of them have been already handed over to the Navy. The vessels will be armed with up to 16 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which have range of over 8,000 kilometers.

The previous Bulava launch was conducted in late November 2014 from the Alexander Nevsky Borey-class submarine.