MOSCOW, January 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's federal
space agency Roscosmos must take a proactive stand on the
testing and production of sea-based Bulava intercontinental
ballistic missiles, a deputy prime minister said on Monday.
The latest unsuccessful submerged test launch on December
23 from the Dmitry Donskoi strategic nuclear-powered submarine
in the White Sea, off Russia's northwest coast, was Bulava's
fifth failure in ten trials. The Russian military said that
production flaws could be to blame for the unsuccessful test
launches.
"There are flaws in the testing of the [Bulava] components
on the ground. Often, real tests are substituted by
mathematical calculations to match technical requirements,"
Sergei Ivanov said at a meeting with Russia's space officials.
He reiterated that tests of the sea-launched Bulava
missile system would continue until the system is adopted by
the Armed Forces.
Russia originally planned for the Bulava to enter service
with the Navy in 2009. However, a senior Russian Navy official
said earlier that several more test launches should be
conducted in 2009 before a final decision to adopt it for
service is made.
The Bulava (SS-NX-30) carries up to 10 nuclear warheads
and has a range of 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). It is
designed for deployment on Borey-class Project 955
nuclear-powered submarines.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier said the missile
would be a key component of Russia's nuclear forces.
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