Russian Submarines Fired Ballistic Missiles at Arctic Ocean and Barents Sea

Russian nuclear-powered submarines of the 667BDRM Tula and 955 Yuri Dolgoruky projects fired ballistic missiles at the Kura range in Kamchatka and Chizha range in the Arkhangelsk region as part of combat training, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Saturday (24th August).

“On August 24, in accordance with the combat training plan, the Sineva sea-based ballistic missile and the “Bulava” missile were successfully launched from the Tula and Yuri Dolgoruky strategic submarines,” the ministry said.

The ministry said that rockets were fired in the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea.

“The large-sized mock-ups of missile warheads completed the full cycle of the flight program and successfully hit training targets at the Chizha range in the Arkhangelsk region and the Kura range on the Kamchatka Peninsula,” the ministry said.

The ministryt noted that these firing confirmed the technical properties of ballistic missiles, as well as the performance of all missile systems on submarines.

SS-N-32 Bulava

The SS-N-32 “Bulava” is an intercontinental-range, submarine-launched, solid propellant ballistic missile. Alongside the SS-25 and the SS-27, both land-based ICBMs, the Bulava represents a core component of Russia’s future strategic nuclear force. Development of the program began in the 1990’s with official production contacts going into effect in the 2007-2008 timeframe. The Bulava was designed to be deployed onto Russia’s Borey-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN’s), also referred to as Dolgorukiy-class or Project 955 submarines, which are capable of holding 12-16 missiles each.1

Originated From: Russia
Possessed By: Russia
Alternate Name: Bulava, RSM-56, SS-N-32
Class: Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)
Basing: Submarine-launched
Length: 12.1 m
Diameter: 2.0 m
Launch Weight: 36,800 kg
Payload: One to six MIRV, 1,150 kg
Warhead: Nuclear, 100-150 kT
Propulsion: Three-stage solid propellant
Range: 8,300 km
Status: Operational
In Service: 2013-present

SS-N-23 Sineva (Skiff)

The SS-N-23 Skiff (R-29RM Shtil) is an intercontinental-range, submarine-based, liquid propellant ballistic missile. The Skiff was developed for the Delta IV ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), each of which is capable of carrying 16 missiles.

Originated From: Russia
Possessed By: Russia
Alternate Name: Stalin, Topol-M, RS-12M1, RS-12M2, RT-2PM2
Class: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
Basing: Road-mobile, Silo-based
Length: 21.9 m
Diameter: 1.9 m
Launch Weight: 47,000 kg
Payload: Single warhead, 1,200 kg
Warhead: Nuclear 500 kT
Propulsion: Three-stage liquid propellant
Range: 11,000 km
Status: Operational
In Service: 1997