Russia to Commission First Borey Class Nuclear Sub in 2013

Russia’s first Borey class strategic nuclear submarine will be commissioned in 2013, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Monday.

The Yury Dolgoruky submarine was expected to join the Russian Navy by the end of this year, but tests carried out during the latest sea trials revealed a number of technical flaws. Software glitches in the automated launch control system prevented further tests of the Bulava ballistic missile, the submarine’s main weapon.

 Yuri Dolgoruky strategic nuclear submarine: characteristics

“We are expecting the Yury Dolgoruky submarine to enter service in 2013,” Serdyukov told Russian lawmakers at a meeting on defense issues.

The second Borey class submarine, the Alexander Nevsky, could join Russia’s Pacific Fleet in 2014, the minister said.

The Borey class submarines are expected to form the core of Russia's strategic submarine fleet, replacing the aging Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) boats. Russia is planning to build eight Borey and Borey-A class subs by 2020.

Two more Borey class submarines are under construction at the Sevmash shipyard in the White Sea port city of Severodvinsk.

A Borey class strategic 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.

All the Borey class strategic submarines will carry the Bulava ballistic missiles, up to 16 ballistic missiles with multiple warheads.

Bulava Tests Postponed Due to Software Glitches

Software glitches in the automated launch control system on board the Borey class strategic submarines has caused a new delay in scheduled tests of the Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said.

“There are technical problems involving software in the automated launch control system, and we are trying to fix them,” Serdyukov told reporters on Friday.

The minister expressed hope that the next test-launch of the Bulava missile from Russia’s second Borey class submarine, the Alexander Nevsky, could be carried out before the end of the year.

All previous test launches were conducted from the Typhoon class Dmitry Donskoy submarine and the first Borey class submarine, the Yuri Dolgoruky.

The Bulava (SS-NX-30) SLBM, developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (since 1998), carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). The three-stage ballistic missile is designed for deployment on Borey class nuclear submarines.

Despite several previous failures, officially blamed on manufacturing faults, the Russian military has insisted that there is no alternative to the Bulava.

Serdyukov also admitted on Friday that the handover of the Yury Dolgoruky submarine to the Russian Navy by the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has been delayed again, this time indefinitely, due to a number of technical flaws.

“The USC has so far failed to deliver the Yury Dolgoruky submarine,” the minister said.

“I am not sure when they will fix all the problems [with the sub] – they are still not able to get it done,” Serdyukov added.

The Borey class is set to become the mainstay of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent fleet, replacing the ageing Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 (Delta-3 and Delta-4 class) boats.

Bulava Missile to overcome any missile defence system

The Russian Navy will shortly put in service the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles, Navy Commander-in-Chief Victor Chirkov said

As a result, Russia’s marine strategic nuclear force will be significantly strengthened. The Bulava missiles will be put in service on board the strategic nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruky, implemented under the Project 955 Borei class, says editor-in-chief of the daily “Nezavisimoe Voennoe Obozrenie” Victor Litovkin.

“Yuri Dolgoruky” will be followed by cruisers “Alexander Nevsky” and then “Vladimir Monomakh”. Each cruiser will be equipped with 16 Bulava missiles each having 6 warheads,” Victor Litovkin said.

The range of the fourth-generation Bulava missile is 8,000 kilometers. The missile should be the basis of Russia’s advanced nuclear deterrent force up to 2040-2045. According to Victor Litovkin, in many aspects, this is a unique missile.

“This is a solid fuel missile and is launched from under water with a higher speed than the liquid-fuel ones. It’s impossible to intercept when launching it and air defence systems cannot target it. Moreover, its warheads fly along unpredictable trajectories at hypersonic speed. In view of this, it’s quite difficult to intercept the warheads. In addition, Bulava missile overcomes air defence systems with the assistance of falsified targets. In short, the warheads disperse falsified targets and fly in a cloud of these targets. In these circumstances, an air defence radar cannot identify real targets, and missile-interceptors cannot launch real attacks. In fact, Americans have not learned to do this yet,” Victor Litovkin added.

The higher capability of the Bulava missile to overcome a missile defence system is a key factor says editor-in-chief of the Moscow-based “National Defence” magazine Victor Korotchenko.

“The Bulava missile system assures that the European air defence system and the American anti-missile system will not undermine Russia’s nuclear deterrence,” Victor Korotchenko said.

Foreign intelligence services pay special attention to this terrible weapon. The interest of special services is understandable because it is an important component of Russia’s strategic nuclear triad, Igor Korotchenko said.

“There were several court proceedings concerning attempts to handover information about Bulava to Western special services. But I believe anti-surveillance measures that are being realized are sufficient to protect the project’s secrets,” Victor Korotchenko added.

In short, one of the most ambitious projects of the Russian military industry, the development of the sea-based strategic missile system has been implemented.

Putin Attends Nuclear Sub Ceremony

Russian President Vladimir Putin participated on Monday in a ceremony to launch construction of Russia’s fourth Borei-class (Project 955A) ballistic missile submarine.

“By 2020, we should have eight Borei-class submarines,” he said. “Two of them - the Alexander Nevsky and one other - are in trials. I am sure the entire project will be implemented.”

The ceremony for the boat, the Knyaz Vladimir, was held at Sevmash, Russia’s largest shipyard and sole nuclear submarine maker located in the port city of Severodvinsk on the White Sea.

More new-generation warships - both surface ships and submarines - should be built for Russia’s “new-look Navy,” complete with advanced weapons, command and control, and communication systems, Putin said.

The Borei class is expected to become the mainstay of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent, replacing the aging Project 941 (Typhoon class) and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) boats.

Three other Borei class boats are at various stages of development at Sevmash. The Yury Dolgoruky is currently undergoing sea trials, while the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh are under construction.

The Borei class will be armed with the Bulava ballistic missile, which is also in the final stage of development and due to enter service on the lead vessel in the class, the Yury Dolgoruky, later this year.

Russia to Lay Down Fourth Borei Class Sub July 30

Borei class (Project 955A) ballistic missile submarine

Russia's fourth Borei class (Project 955A) ballistic missile submarine will be officially laid down at a ceremony on July 30, Russian Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Viktor Chirkov said on Thursday.

The Borei class is set to become the mainstay of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent fleet, replacing the ageing Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) boats.

"The official ceremony for laying down the Borei-class boat, named Knyaz Vladimir, will be held on Monday July 30," Chirkov said.

Three other Borei class boats are at various stages of development at the Sevmash shipyard on the Kola peninsula. Yury Dolgoruky is currently undergoing sea trials, whilst Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh are under construction.

The Borei class will be armed with the Bulava ballistic missile, which is also in the final stage of development and due to enter service on Yury Dolgoruky later this year.

Russia Plans to Test more Bulava Missiles in Fall

Russia would beef up its Navy and continue to test the new Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile in coming months, Navy Commander Viktor Chirkov said Thursday.

"We are going to launch the Bulava this fall from the Alexander Nevsky nuclear submarine. If the launch fails, we will continue," Chirkov told local media.

If the tests were successful, the Bulava missile would be formally put into service, he said.

The commander confirmed the Russian Navy would put on duty up to 15 new warships and submarines by the end of 2012.

He said the Navy was acquiring nuclear strategic submarines armed with cruise missiles, diesel-powered submarines, destroyers and other warships.

The Bulava's carrier, the fourth-generation Alexander Nevsky, conducted its maiden exercise in June. The 170-meter long submarine can carry 16 Bulava missiles. The Navy confirmed it had put the Bulava into service following Alexander Nevsky's voyage.

The Bulava, Russia's most advanced three-stage solid fuel missile, is expected to the cornerstone of the country's nuclear arsenal. It is capable of carrying 10 warheads and has a range of 8,000 km.

Russian forces tested the missile 18 times prior to the decision to deploy it. Seven out of these tests failed.