No plans for replacing Bulava with Sineva: Russia

[Mig-29]

Russia has no plans to replace the Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile with the Sineva missile, said Nikolai Makarov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. “This is an absolutely different complex. Submarines are made for Bulava launches. In fact, we have to rebuild a submarine to equip it with the Sineva missile. This is a very expensive project,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“We believe that Bulava will be launched,” he said. Makarov underlined that the submarines will be commissioned in time irrespective of the Bulava missile’s failed tests. “There are no plans to correct the terms of the submarines’ construction,” the general said. Makarov highlighted that “recent unsuccessful tests of Bulava are linked with a technological production cycle and not with its design specifics.” He expressed the hope that “the industry will cope with these problems and will master the production cycle.”

He reiterated that after the missile’s failed tests the chief designer resigned and a new plant would take Bulava’s production. “The date of Bulava’s next launch has not been finalized yet. The reasons of the malfunction are being ascertained,” Makarov said.

ASIAN DEFENCE: No plans for replacing Bulava with Sineva: Russia