R-29RMU Sineva
Encyclopedia
The R-29RMU Sineva also designated RSM-54,
is a Russia
n liquid-fuelled submarine-launched ballistic missile
. It has the GRAU index 3M27, and is identified by NATO as the SS-N-23 Skiff. Carrying ten 100 kt warhead
s,
it is designed to be launched from Delta IV class submarines
, which are armed with 16 missiles each.
The first full-range test was reportedly conducted on October 11, 2008; the reported range was 11,547 kilometers.
The R-29RMU entered service in 2007 and is expected to remain in service until at least 2030.
Current plans see the construction of approximately 100 such missiles.
, conducted over 100 SSBN patrols. The decline of the Russian navy during the 1990s weakened Russia's navy greatly, with no SSBN patrols carried out in 2001-2002. The development of the Sineva is part of a program tasked with "preventing the weakening of Russia's nuclear deterrent."
The R-29RMU Sineva is seen as a rival to the solid propellant Bulava SLBM.
Originally, the Russian Navy was slated to receive the Sineva missile in 2002, but the first test was conducted
only in 2004. The missile was eventually commissioned in 2007.
which also included the launch of a Molniya
communication satellite and an R-36 missile.
The launch failures involving nuclear submarines Novomoskovsk and Karelia may have been caused by a
military satellite blocking the launch signal; this incident did not lead to any serious consequences for the K-407 Novomoskovsk strategic nuclear submarine. March 1, 2004 saw then Russian president Vladimir Putin
instructing the acting defence minister to carry out an investigation in order to determine the reason of the
launch failures of the three RSM-54 missiles in mid-February.
the RSM-54 Sineva. The missile’s two warheads reportedly hit their targets. President Vladimir Putin and Defense
Minister Sergei Ivanov observed a successful test launch of the Sineva missile from the SSBN Yekaterinburg.
Further successful launches were conducted by K-84 Yekaterinburg on September 8, 2006. The missile was launched
from an ice-covered polar region toward the Chizha test site at the Kanin Peninsula. The three warheads were reported
to have successfully reached their targets.
Another successful launch was performed on 4 March 2010 from the Barents Sea
. This was followed by more launches
on 6 August 2010, when a K-114 Tula fired two missiles towards the Kura Test Range
. The most recent launches
were carried out on May 20, 2011 and July 27, 2011, both successful.
than the USN Trident (350-400 meters CEP
versus 360 for the Trident-1, and 150-200 for the Trident-2),
the R-29RM is superior in term of energo-mass perfection: the value of throw-weight divided by the starting weight of the rocket. The R-29RM boasts a figure of 46 units, compared with 33 at the Trident-1 and 37.5 in the Trident-2. The R-29RM missile currently (2011) holds the record for this indicator among submarine launched ballistic missiles.
R-29 Vysota
Trident missile
M45 SLBM
JL-2
is a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n liquid-fuelled submarine-launched ballistic missile
Submarine-launched ballistic missile
A submarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to...
. It has the GRAU index 3M27, and is identified by NATO as the SS-N-23 Skiff. Carrying ten 100 kt warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
s,
it is designed to be launched from Delta IV class submarines
Delta class submarine
The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973...
, which are armed with 16 missiles each.
The first full-range test was reportedly conducted on October 11, 2008; the reported range was 11,547 kilometers.
The R-29RMU entered service in 2007 and is expected to remain in service until at least 2030.
Current plans see the construction of approximately 100 such missiles.
Background
At its height in 1984, the Soviet NavySoviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
, conducted over 100 SSBN patrols. The decline of the Russian navy during the 1990s weakened Russia's navy greatly, with no SSBN patrols carried out in 2001-2002. The development of the Sineva is part of a program tasked with "preventing the weakening of Russia's nuclear deterrent."
The R-29RMU Sineva is seen as a rival to the solid propellant Bulava SLBM.
Originally, the Russian Navy was slated to receive the Sineva missile in 2002, but the first test was conducted
only in 2004. The missile was eventually commissioned in 2007.
Initial launch failures
Failed Sineva test launches took place during the strategic command exercise “Security-2004” (held 10-18 February 2004),which also included the launch of a Molniya
Molniya (satellite)
Molniya was a military communications satellite system used by the Soviet Union. The satellites were placed into highly eccentric elliptical orbits known as Molniya orbits, characterised by an inclination of +63.4 degrees and a period of around 12 hours...
communication satellite and an R-36 missile.
The launch failures involving nuclear submarines Novomoskovsk and Karelia may have been caused by a
military satellite blocking the launch signal; this incident did not lead to any serious consequences for the K-407 Novomoskovsk strategic nuclear submarine. March 1, 2004 saw then Russian president Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
instructing the acting defence minister to carry out an investigation in order to determine the reason of the
launch failures of the three RSM-54 missiles in mid-February.
Successful launches
March 17 2004 saw Novomoskovsk nuclear submarine of the Russian Northern Fleet perform a successful launch ofthe RSM-54 Sineva. The missile’s two warheads reportedly hit their targets. President Vladimir Putin and Defense
Minister Sergei Ivanov observed a successful test launch of the Sineva missile from the SSBN Yekaterinburg.
Further successful launches were conducted by K-84 Yekaterinburg on September 8, 2006. The missile was launched
from an ice-covered polar region toward the Chizha test site at the Kanin Peninsula. The three warheads were reported
to have successfully reached their targets.
Another successful launch was performed on 4 March 2010 from the Barents Sea
Barents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
. This was followed by more launches
on 6 August 2010, when a K-114 Tula fired two missiles towards the Kura Test Range
Kura Test Range
Kura Test Range is an intercontinental ballistic missile impact area used by Russia, located in northern Kamchatka Krai. It is northeast of the settlement of Klyuchi. The center coordinates are...
. The most recent launches
were carried out on May 20, 2011 and July 27, 2011, both successful.
Comparison with the USN/RN Trident missile
While supposed to be less accurate without GLONASSGLONASS
GLONASS , acronym for Globalnaya navigatsionnaya sputnikovaya sistema or Global Navigation Satellite System, is a radio-based satellite navigation system operated for the Russian government by the Russian Space Forces...
than the USN Trident (350-400 meters CEP
Circular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
versus 360 for the Trident-1, and 150-200 for the Trident-2),
the R-29RM is superior in term of energo-mass perfection: the value of throw-weight divided by the starting weight of the rocket. The R-29RM boasts a figure of 46 units, compared with 33 at the Trident-1 and 37.5 in the Trident-2. The R-29RM missile currently (2011) holds the record for this indicator among submarine launched ballistic missiles.
See Also
RSM-56 BulavaR-29 Vysota
R-29 Vysota
R-29 Vysota is a family of Russian submarine-launched ballistic missiles, designed by State Rocket Center Makayev. Development of the R-29 SLBMs started in the 1963 and was first launched in 1969. It uses the storable Liquid rocket propellants N2O4/UDMH. Over time different versions have developed...
Trident missile
M45 SLBM
JL-2
JL-2
The JL-2 is a Chinese second-generation intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile which has a two-stage, solid–liquid-fuelled propulsion design. Accurate specifications of the new missile are hard to obtain and substantiate due to the secretive nature of the program...