ULAN BATOR, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - Production of Russia's troubled Bulava ballistic missile has been moved to another manufacturer following reports of the faults in the production cycle, the chief of the Russian General Staff said Wednesday.
The Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which is being developed by the Moscow-based Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT), has suffered six failures in 11 tests. The general director of the institute has resigned over the failures, seen as a setback in the development of Russia's nuclear deterrent.
"The latest failed launch of the Bulava was caused by technical glitches in the production cycle rather than by faulty design," Gen. Nikolai Makarov told a news conference in the capital of Mongolia.
Makarov said a final report on the causes of the previous faulty test launches would be ready soon, but the date for the next Bulava trial had not yet been scheduled.
The general did not specify who the new manufacturer of the missile would be, but expressed hope that the Russian industry "will tackle the problems and cope with the [production] task."
The Bulava (SS-NX-30) SLBM carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has an estimated range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). The three-stage solid-propellant ballistic missile is designed for deployment on new Borey class nuclear-powered strategic submarines.
The Russian military expects the Bulava, along with Topol-M land-based ballistic missiles, to become the core of Russia's nuclear triad.
Makarov ruled out replacing the Bulava missile with the Sineva SLBM on new strategic submarines.
The RSM-54 Sineva (NATO designation SS-N-23 Skiff) is a third-generation liquid-propellant SLBM that entered service with the Russian Navy in July 2007 to equip Delta IV class strategic submarines.
"Sineva is an absolutely different system. [Borey class] submarines are designed to be armed with the Bulava system. If they are to be adjusted to Sineva, they will have to be rebuilt entirely, which would be a costly project," the general said.
