The work for the new Borey-class strategic submarine base - said the number one of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov at the Sputnik news agency - is proceeding regularly and will be completed by the next 1st October. The base will be totally self-sufficient and will be able to equip, replenish and arm the entire Borey class.
A new world equilibrium could be brought right from the entry into deterrent service of the Borey class. The Russians have optimism for the 'Bulava' missiles and the Borey class submarines, which is entrusted with nuclear deterrence at least until the 2050.
The test launches will end in the 2015. The missiles will be launched from the submarines of the Northern and Pacific Fleet.
The entire 'Borey' class cannot yet enter service because it does not have the armament to do it. Each 'Borey' should carry from sixteen to twenty missiles 'Bulava' (only for 955U), each of which has from six to ten Mirv-Marv warheads. Eight class 'Borei' submarines will equip the Russian navy within the 2020.
The 'Bulava' three-stage missile, code-named Nato SS-N-30 Mace, is the naval version of the most advanced Russian ballistic missile, the SS-27 Topol-M. It can also be launched in motion. Carries up to 10 warheads Mirv (Marv), can hit targets up to eight thousand kilometers away and is designed to exclusively equip 'Borey' class nuclear submarines.
Despite the many failures due to manufacturing defects, the Russian army argues that there is no alternative to Bulava. Due to bankruptcy during testing of the new Bulava intercontinental missiles, the 'Borey' will not be able to carry out their primary task, namely nuclear deterrence.
The first 'Borei', the 'Yury Dolgoruky' K535, joined the Northern Fleet in January of the 2013, followed by the K-550 (Project 955A) "Aleksandr Nevskij" at the end of December of the same year. The "Vladimir Monomakh" entered service in the 2014, while the fourth "Borei", the "Knyaz Vladimir" has been under construction since July 2012 at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia. The construction of the fifth nuclear-powered submarine "Knyaz Oleg" began last July.
'Borei' class submarines will form the backbone of the navy's strategic nuclear deterrent. They will replace the Typhoon, Delta-3 and Delta-4 class submarines. Each Bulava missile is armed with 6-10 thermonuclear warheads for 96-196 submarine tested.
The possible coverage of sensitive targets, considering the range of eight thousand kilometers, could be the Barents Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. If the Russians launched from these areas, they could hit any point in the continental United States.
Franco Iacch
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
