According to information published by Tass on November 8, 2022, the Generalissimus Suvorov SSBN successfully test-fired Bulava ICBM during the final stage of the acceptance trials, the Defense Ministry said.
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Russian submarine launching Bulava ballistic missile (Picture source: Russian MoD)
Sevmash Shipyard CEO Mikhail Budnichenko earlier told TASS the Generalissimus Suvorov of project 955A would be soon handed over to the Navy. The SSBN is to operate in the Pacific fleet.
About the Bulava missile
The RSM-56 Bulava is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) developed for the Russian Navy and deployed in 2013 on the new Borei class of ballistic missile nuclear submarines. It is intended as the future cornerstone of Russia's nuclear triad and is the most expensive weapons project in the country.
The Bulava missile was developed by Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology under the leadership of chief designer Yury Solomonov. Although it utilizes some engineering solutions used for the recent RT-2PM2 Topol-M ICBM, the new missile has been developed virtually from scratch.
Bulava is both lighter and more sophisticated than the Topol-M. The two missiles are expected to have comparable ranges, and similar CEP and warhead configurations. Bulava has a declared START throw weight of 1150 kg to 9,500 kilometers.
The missile has three stages; the first and second stages use solid fuel propellant, while the third stage uses a liquid fuel to allow high maneuverability during warhead separation.
The missile can be launched from an inclined position, allowing a submarine to fire them while moving. It has a low flight trajectory, and due to this could be classified as a quasi-ballistic missile.
