SS-NX-30 Bulava
Enviado: Sáb Jul 29, 2006 6:26 pm
SS-NX-30
Country: Russian Federation
Alternate Name: Bulava
Class: SLBM
Basing: Submarine launched
Propulsion: 3-stage solid
Range: 10,000 km
Status: Development
Details
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.
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.
Current Russian accounts often portrary the SS-27 and the SS-NX-30 as being invulnerable to modern anti-ballistic missile defenses. This may be true of the sort of ground-based, midcourse, kinetic-kill interceptors such as those currently being deployed in Alaska and Hawaii, but it would be an exaggeration to say that ballistic missiles are invulnerable to interception during their boost phase.
The SS-27 missile is said to be capable of making evasive maneuvers during its flight and as it approaches the target, enabling it to evade terminal phase interceptors. It almost certainly also carries midcourse-deployable countermeasures and decoys to increase the chances of its success. The warhead has also been reported as being shielded against radiation, electromagnetic interference and physical disturbance. Previous missiles could be disabled by detonating a nuclear warhead within ten kilometers (6 miles); shielding could require a closer range. However, the SS-27 is designed to be able to withstand nuclear blasts as close as 500 meters. While the boost phase remains the most vulnerable time for the SS-27, it is also the case that land-based boost phase interceptors would have little chance of reaching the missile in time without being based on Russian territory. Space-based boost phase interception remains the best alternative. The SS-27 is also said to be designed to be resistant to attack by a space-based laser.
The SS-27 can 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 (6,214 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.
Country: Russian Federation
Alternate Name: Bulava
Class: SLBM
Basing: Submarine launched
Propulsion: 3-stage solid
Range: 10,000 km
Status: Development
Details
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.
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.
Current Russian accounts often portrary the SS-27 and the SS-NX-30 as being invulnerable to modern anti-ballistic missile defenses. This may be true of the sort of ground-based, midcourse, kinetic-kill interceptors such as those currently being deployed in Alaska and Hawaii, but it would be an exaggeration to say that ballistic missiles are invulnerable to interception during their boost phase.
The SS-27 missile is said to be capable of making evasive maneuvers during its flight and as it approaches the target, enabling it to evade terminal phase interceptors. It almost certainly also carries midcourse-deployable countermeasures and decoys to increase the chances of its success. The warhead has also been reported as being shielded against radiation, electromagnetic interference and physical disturbance. Previous missiles could be disabled by detonating a nuclear warhead within ten kilometers (6 miles); shielding could require a closer range. However, the SS-27 is designed to be able to withstand nuclear blasts as close as 500 meters. While the boost phase remains the most vulnerable time for the SS-27, it is also the case that land-based boost phase interceptors would have little chance of reaching the missile in time without being based on Russian territory. Space-based boost phase interception remains the best alternative. The SS-27 is also said to be designed to be resistant to attack by a space-based laser.
The SS-27 can 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 (6,214 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.