The third nuclear-powered "Borey" class ballistic missile submarine, the 'Vladimir Monomakh', was officially handed over to the Russian Navy last December 21. The delivery ceremony took place on December 19. It is in service with the 25a Submarine Division of the Pacific Fleet based in the Far East of Russia.
The problem of the whole 'Borey' class is that it cannot yet enter the deterrent service because it does not have the armament to do it (not considering the three survivors of the 'Typhoon' class who should be updated anyway).
Each 'Borey' should carry from sixteen to twenty missiles 'Bulava' (only for 955U), each of which has from six to ten Mirv warheads. Eight class 'Borey' submarines will equip the Russian Navy within the 2020. The 'Bulava' three-stage missile, codename 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. It carries up to 10 warheads Mirv, can hit targets up to eight thousand kilometers away and is designed to exclusively equip 'Borey' class nuclear submarines.
Despite numerous failures due to manufacturing defects, the Russian army claims that there is no alternative to 'Bulava'. Due to the failure during the testing of the new 'Bulava' intercontinental missiles, the 'Borey' are not yet able to carry out their primary task and, that is, nuclear deterrence.
The first 'Borey', 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 that year. The "Vladimir Monomakh" has been in service for a few weeks. The fourth 'Borey', the 'Knyaz Vladimir' has been under construction since July 2012 at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia. The "Knyaz Oleg", the fifth boat of the class, is under construction since 27 last July. The sixth submarine the 'Knyaz Suvorov' entered production on the 26 last December. The last two submarines will go into production by the 2015.
'Borey' 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 'Borey' costs a billion dollars.
'Bulava' tests
The 'Borey' nuclear-powered submarine "Alexander Nevsky" successfully carried out the third and final test of the scheduled year by launching a Bulava missile the 28 last November. The missile was launched underwater from the Barents Sea and hit the target in the Kura firing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Russians talked about "tests" and not operational missiles as they did for the one launched on November 1st. To launch the Bulava was in that case the second nuclear-powered submarine 'Borey' class "Yury Dolgoruky".
The first of the new tests took place on 10 last September. To launch the Bulava ballistic missile, the nuclear-powered submarine 'Borey' class "Vladimir Monomakh".
The missile has successfully reached the target.
Franco Iacch
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
