The R-30 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile is designed to be launched from the latest submarines of the Borey 955 project. This development of the Russian military-industrial complex is currently being put into service.
The first full-fledged test launch of Bulava took place on September 27, 2005. The rocket was launched from the Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine in the White Sea. Having flown more than 5,500 kilometers in 14 minutes, the projectile successfully hit targets at the Kura training ground in Kamchatka.
In total, 18 launches were made during the tests, six of which were unsuccessful, and two more were recognized as partially successful. Nevertheless, at the end of 2011, Dmitry Medvedev, being President of the Russian Federation, announced that the Bulava complex of naval strategic nuclear forces would be put into service. In that year, all four missile test launches were successful, and the state tests were deemed complete.
"Bulava" is capable of carrying 6-10 hypersonic maneuvering nuclear warheads. Each of them is guided individually and is capable of changing the flight path along the course and altitude. Warheads reach a capacity of 100-150 kilotons. The maximum range of the missile is 8,000 meters. The Bulava starts both from the depths and from the surface. The development of the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering works on solid fuel, which increases operational safety compared to liquid-fuel rockets.
In March 2012, the Russian military department disseminated information that in October-November, two more Bulava launches would be made from the Borei Project 955 strategic nuclear submarine Alexander Nevsky. By that time, the submarine's sea trials will end, and in case of successful tests, it will also be put into service.
In total, by 2020, the Ministry of Defense plans to purchase eight submarines of the Borey project. The missile carriers will be able to carry 16 to 20 rounds on board. Thus, the Bulava complex should form the basis of Russia's naval strategic nuclear forces.
