MURMANSK. Oct 22 (Interfax-Northwest) - The dismantling of P-700 Granit (SSN-19 Shipwreck) cruise missiles will be one of the most difficult stages of disposing of the nuclear submarine Kursk.
Deputy Navy Commander Rear Admiral Mikhail Barskov told Interfax it is not clear what condition the missiles are in. The long-range ship-to-ship missiles are located in the light hull of the submarine from the second through the fifth sections.
Only after the submarine is drained will experts decide whether the conventional or emergency unloading protocol is going to be applied.
Barskov said the conventional option entails that missiles will be removed the same as from an operating submarine. If the silos are damaged, the missiles will be cut from their mounting brackets and removed in containers.
The military admits that "in any case such an operation contains a significant element of risk" but say that "the absence of power in the life-support systems of the sub is a positive factor" and rules out the possibility of the missiles launching by themselves.
The Kursk is left with 22 of 24 Granit missile launch systems. Each missile weighs 6.9 tonnes, is 10.5 meters long and has a range of 555 kilometers. Its warheads weigh one tonne.
A team of missile experts will take part in the unloading. Earlier they visited the submarine Oryol of the same class as the Kursk and developed a technical plan. The unloading of the missiles before severe frosts begin is a pressing task, in particular, water must be drained from the missile silos.