MOSCOW. June 3 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Navy plans to carry out five launches of the Bulava sea-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), including the first three from the Sea of Okhotsk, in second half of 2014 to 2015, a source in the military industry committee under the Russian government told reporters on Tuesday.
"The Borei class nuclear submarine of strategic importance Vladimir Monomakh will launch Bulava in August-September and Yury Dolgoruky, of the same type of ship in November. Both 2014 launches will be carried out in the White Sea at the Kura range in Kamchatka," the source said.
According to the source, "in 2015 three more launches of Bulava will be carried out from Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh nuclear submarines of strategic importance from the Sea of Okhotsk at the Chizha range at the Kanin Peninsula."
"The launches will take place in summer-fall 2015 following the Borei transfer from the North Fleet to the Pacific Fleet," the source said.
The Borei project's head nuclear submarine, Yury Dolgorukiy, raised its flag on January 10, 2013; the first one serially-produced - Aleksander Nevsky - was handed over to the Navy on December 23, 2013. The third Borei, Vladimir Monomakh, is undergoing tests before entering service in the Navy this year. A solid hull has been built for the fourth ship - an upgraded Project 955-A Borei A new-generation nuclear submarine Knyaz Vladimir.
The Project 955 Borei nuclear submarines have the following characteristics: displacement 24,000 tons (submerged), length 170 meters, width 13.5 meters, draught 10 meters, speed 29 knots, armament: 16 Bulava ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), torpedoes and torpedo missiles in six 533-millimeter torpedo tubes.
The final launch of Bulava was held during state tests on September 6, 2013 from the Alexander Nevsky vessel but it failed.
It was planned to launch Bulava from Alexander Nevsky after the submarine was transferred to the Russian Navy. No launches have been held from Vladimir Monomakh so far.