From RIA Novosti

 

Russia's Yury Dolgoruky submarine to start sea trials in spring

18:52 | 11/ 02/ 2009

 

MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti) - Sea trials of Russia's first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine will start in the spring when navigation opens in the White Sea, Russia's Navy commander said on Wednesday.

 

The fourth-generation Yury Dolgoruky was built at the Sevmash plant in northern Russia and was taken out of dry dock in April 2007. It will be equipped with sea-based Bulava ballistic missiles, although they have not entered service and are due to undergo further testing this year.

 

"The ice floe conditions in the White Sea at present are still not favorable for navigation. The submarine's crew and a team of Sevmash specialists continue to ready the vessel for the trials," Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said.

 

Sevmash and Northern Fleet specialists conducted successful testing of the submarine's nuclear reactor on December 16 and since then the reactor has been working normally, the admiral said.

 

The Yury Dolgoruky submarine is 170 meters (580 feet) long, has a hull diameter of 13 meters (42 feet), a crew of 107, including 55 officers, a maximum depth of 450 meters (about 1,500 feet) and a submerged speed of about 29 knots. It can carry up to 16 ballistic missiles and torpedoes.

 

Two other Borey-class nuclear submarines, the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh, are currently under construction at the Sevmash shipyard and are expected to be completed in 2009 and 2011.

 

Under the Russian State Armaments Program for 2007-2015, the Navy will receive several dozen surface ships and submarines, including five Project 955 Borey-class submarines, two Project 885 Yasen nuclear-powered attack submarines, and six Project 677 Lada diesel-electric submarines.

From RIA Novosti

 

Bulava missile test failed due to faulty part - Defense Ministry

13:47 | 16/ 03/ 2009

 

MOSCOW, March 16 (RIA Novosti) - A faulty ejection cartridge was responsible for the failure of the latest test launch of the Bulava sea-based ballistic missile, a Russian Defense Ministry source said on Monday.

 

The submerged launch of the Bulava ICBM took place on December 23 from the Dmitry Donskoi strategic nuclear-powered submarine in the White Sea, off Russia's northwest coast, targeting the Kura firing ground in Kamchatka in Russia's Far East.

 

The missile left the tube, but went off course and self-destructed due to a malfunction following the first stage separation.

 

"The cause of the latest failure during the launch of the Bulava missile was purely technical. One of the subcontractors supplied faulty ejection cartridges which were used in the separation of the missile's stages," the source said.

 

Despite the fifth failure in 10 trials, Russia's Defense Ministry is planning to complete a series of at least five Bulava tests and put the ICBM into service by the end of 2009.

 

The Bulava (SS-NX-30) ICBM carries up to 10 nuclear warheads and has a range of 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). The three-stage ballistic missile is designed for deployment on Borey-class Project 955 nuclear-powered submarines.

 

Sea trials of Yury Dolgoruky, Russia's first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine, are due to start in the spring, when navigation begins in the White Sea.

 

Two other Borey-class nuclear submarines, the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh, are currently under construction at the Sevmash shipyard and are expected to be completed in 2009 and 2011. Russia is planning to build a total of eight submarines of this class by 2015.