Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Delta IV.

This is coolbert:

From MARCO POLO through Harry:

Russian Delta IV class missile firing submarine successfully concludes a test:

"Russian media reported that on Dec. 12, the SSBN Verkhoturye (NATO's Delta IV class) made a successful launch of a 'Sineva' missile (NATO's SS-N-13 'Skiff') from the Barents Sea onto training grounds in Kamchatka in the Far East. The shooting was done from a submerged position."

     "The R-29 RMU 'Sineva' (meaning 'blue' in Russian) is thought to be a rival, or back-up, to the 'Bulava', which is carried by the newer SSBN 'Boley' [Borey]. It is a three-stage liquid-fueled rocket, while the 'Bulava' uses solid fuel. Its maximum range is said to be 11,547 km [about 7,000 miles]. It was first test-fired in 2007. It will stay operational till 2030."

I thought all the Delta IV boats from the era of the Cold War were to decommissioned and scrapped, the Russians to rely on the Borey class boat firing the Bulava missile and that SLBM alone [Borey] on active duty. This apparently is not so, at least for the next fifteen years.

coolbert.

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