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Russia's Bulava undergoes fast-track test programme
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By David C Isby
On 19 March, during a visit to the Northern Fleet on the occasion of the centenary of the Russian submarine fleet, Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Masorin said that the Bulava's flight testing would be complete by the end of 2007. He stated that there exists sufficient knowledge for a compressed flight-test programme and that all future test launches will be from submerged submarines. Yuriy Solomonov, general designer at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, has stated that the objective is to have the Bulava ready for service in 24-30 months.
The solid-propellant Bulava missile was test-launched for the first time on 27 September 2005 and subsequently had a second test in December. The 2006 flight-test programme was originally scheduled to begin in late April, but the next launch has now been delayed until late June or July. The test programme will consist of 10 further launches.
There are concerns that the fast-track development and testing plan for the Bulava may not be effective. Former fleet commander retired Admiral Eduard Baltin has been among its critics, stating: “They have launched a Bulava two times and are already trumpeting that it is time to adopt it. Previously, in the time of the USSR, even after adoption [for service] we carried out 30 test launches of ICBMs.”
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