For a goal of 5 thousand kilometers: the submarine "Prince Vladimir" first launched the "Mace"

The strategic submarine Prince Vladimir of the Borey-A project launched the Bulava ballistic missile for the first time. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the launch took place during the test of the submarine in the White Sea.

“For the first time since the latest strategic missile carrier Prince Vladimir of the Borey-A project, a test launch of the Bulava sea-based ballistic missile was carried out. The missile was launched from an underwater position in the White Sea at the Kura training ground in Kamchatka as part of the planned tests of the submarine, ”the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Note that the distance from the White Sea to Kamchatka is approximately 5.5 thousand km.

The Russian military department clarified that the Bulava’s flight was carried out as normal — combat training units reached the training ground at a set time, which was recorded by means of objective control. The closure of the area at the time of the firing was provided by the vessels supporting the White Sea naval base of the Northern Fleet.

“Prince Vladimir” is the fourth ship of the project 955 “Borey”. At the same time, in comparison with the first three, it was slightly modified, in connection with which this project is called 955A Borey-A. Compared with the first three submarines of Project 955, it is less noisy, has a more advanced system of maneuvering, retention at depth and fire control.

Submarine Borey

The first three Boreas were transferred to the Russian Navy in 2013-2014. They bear the names of the Old Russian princes - "Yuri Dolgoruky", "Alexander Nevsky" and "Vladimir Monomakh". According to the classification adopted in Russia, nuclear submarines of project 955 belong to the fourth generation of strategic missile submarines.

The Boreas were developed at the end of the 80s of the last century, and the first ship, Yuri Dolgoruky, was laid down in 1996. He was launched only in 2008, and he joined the fleet in 2013, when he was assigned to the Northern Fleet. The implementation of the project at that time was delayed by economic problems, as well as certain technological difficulties. Nevertheless, further work was significantly accelerated.

“Alexander Nevsky” was laid down in 2004 and joined the Pacific Fleet at the end of 2013. The bookmark of Vladimir Monomakh took place in 2006, and in December 2014 he began his service in the Pacific Fleet as well.

The first nuclear submarine of project 955A “Prince Vladimir” was laid down in 2012. The adoption of the cruiser is planned for 2019. In addition to it, four more submarines of the Borey-A project are under construction - Prince Oleg, Generalissimo Suvorov, Emperor Alexander III and Prince Pozharsky. Work on their creation is carried out by Sevmash in Severodvinsk.

Submarines of this type can carry 16 Bulava intercontinental missiles, develop an underwater speed of up to 29 knots (54.7 km / h) and dive to a depth of about 400 m. In autonomous mode, nuclear submarines can last up to three months.

In September 2019, Russia's Deputy Minister of Defense Alexei Krivoruchko said that the department intends to conclude a contract for the construction of two more Boreev-A and two nuclear submarines Yasen-M.

“Within the framework of the Army-2019 forum, we signed a contract for an additional supply of two Ashen-M fleets to the fleet, and in the near future, as already decided, we will sign a contract for two more Boreya-A,” he said.

Rocket "Mace"

The R-30 Bulava missile is designed to be deployed on submarines of the Borey type. Its creation began in the late 1990s at the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering. The rocket passed successful tests in 2007, and in 2008 its mass production began.

According to Viktor Chirikov, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, the Bulava was actually adopted in 2012, but continued to undergo legal registration.

The "mace" can carry 6-10 individual warheads of individual guidance, the power of which is approximately equal to 150 kilotons. This missile can hit targets at a distance of up to 9 thousand km.

The first launches of this Boreem rocket took place in May 2018. Then, “Yuri Dolgoruky”, while in the White Sea, launched four “Clubs” along the Kura training ground.

Experts from the American publication The National Interest noted that even one Borey submarine with Bulava missiles is capable of delivering a devastating blow to the enemy’s cities, even if other Russian nuclear forces are destroyed.

“One Borey can bring down 72 nuclear warheads, which are ten times as destructive as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, to cities and military bases located at a distance of more than 5.8 thousand miles,” the newspaper writes.