Interfaks and ITAR-TASS report Borey-class SSBN Yuriy Dolgorukiy successfully launched its third Bulava SLBM today, that’s the 17th overall test and the 10th success (including five in a row).
The earlier-reported launch window was missed due to bad weather, according to Flotprom.ru.
ITAR-TASS quoted the VPK this week regarding Borey unit 2 Aleksandr Nevskiy. The VPK says Nevskiy won’t fire a Bulava before the summer of 2012. After finishing its factory underway testing (ZKhI or ЗХИ) and several successful single Bulava launches, Nevskiy might be accepted into service by the end of 2012, according to the VPK.
Nevskiy’s now on a two-week phase of ZKhI and will be back in Severodvinsk by early December to rectify any problems identified. ITAR-TASS says underway testing will continue as the weather permits.
Rossiyskaya gazeta Wednesday also noted that Nevskiy’s schedule has moved to the right, and it can’t be accepted until 2012. RG covered how the first two Boreys used unused proyekt 971 Akula components, but some are talking about Borey unit three Vladimir Monomakh as a “modernized variant” and its builders will no longer be forced to stuff their “new contents” into a “different” hull. Others have cited the lack of leftover parts as a problem that will increase the cost and difficulty of building the third new SSBN.
The paper says Nevskiy’s crew trained at Obninsk, and also aboard Dolgorukiy. Like Dolgorukiy, Nevskiy will head for the Pacific Fleet, according to RG. OSK and the Defense Ministry remain in difficult negotiations over the Borey’s reported 23-billion-ruble price tag.
Updating a related story, ITAR-TASS says new Yasen-class SSN Severodvinsk is now in its second underway period. Its first (September until early October) was deemed successful; 80 percent of tasks were completed and only minor problems identified.
Worth recalling here that two Boreys, Bulava, and one Yasen were all on President Medvedev’s list of weapons systems to be procured in GOZ-2010.
Russian Defense Policy 