The first reports on the development of a new project of a promising ballistic missile appeared in the domestic media. The details of this project are still unknown, but certain assumptions are being made. Attempts are being made to predict the purpose of the new project, as well as to determine its prospects in the context of the overall development of the strategic nuclear forces. However, the vast majority of information about the new project is still unknown.
Information about the new project was published by Izvestia on July 14th. The journalists of the publication talked with the Director General of the State Missile Center named after V. I. V. P. Makeev Vladimir Degtyar, who spoke about the current work of his organization. According to the head, the GRC is currently engaged in the development of several new projects in the framework of fulfilling orders from the Ministry of Defense. The development of land-based and sea-based ballistic missiles is underway. An intercontinental missile "Sarmat" is being created for the strategic missile forces based on land. In addition, an experimental design rocket is underway on another promising topic.
V. Degtyar did not disclose any details of the two new projects. Thus, by now, some information has become known about the project of the "land" missile of the "Sarmat" type, while there is still no information about the complex being developed in parallel. It is only known about the existence of this project, and there is also information about its possible purpose.
Bulava missile launch. Photo Bastion-karpenko.ru
From the words of the head of the GRTs them. V. P. Makeev follows that at present the specialists of this organization are engaged in the implementation of the early stages of a new project, during which the most general features of the future system are determined. It can also be concluded that the development of the project, the name of which is still unknown, is being carried out as part of the development of the naval component of the strategic nuclear forces. Thus, in the distant future, a new ballistic missile may become the main weapon of promising submarines. In this case, it can be considered a replacement for the recently adopted R-30 Bulava missile.
For obvious reasons, it is too early to talk about the characteristics and capabilities of a promising rocket. The project is in its earliest stages, which is why the first tests can begin only in a few years, and the adoption of the rocket into service turns out to be a matter of the distant future. Nevertheless, already now, various assumptions may arise regarding the appearance of a promising submarine missile.
Probably, in terms of basic flight characteristics, the rocket of the future will, at least, not be inferior to modern products. It should be expected that it will be able to fly at a range of at least 9-10 thousand km and deliver warheads to several targets. We should expect the use of a multiple warhead with individual warheads. At the same time, some new developments can be used as part of combat equipment. Thus, in recent years, developments in the field of hypersonic technologies have attracted particular interest of specialists and the general public. According to various estimates, promising domestic-developed ICBMs will be able to carry special hypersonic maneuvering warheads or other systems based on new technologies. The use of advanced missile defense penetration capabilities is expected and fully justified, which will help compensate for future progress in the field of defenses.
In the context of creating a new missile for submarines, one cannot but consider the issue of creating carriers of such weapons. The newest Project 955 Borey strategic missile submarine cruisers are equipped with R-30 ballistic missiles. Nuclear submarines of this type and missiles for them were adopted relatively recently. By the end of the decade, it is planned to build eight submarines, which will be able to carry 16 missiles. Operation of the Boreyev will continue over the next several decades. The possibility of re-equipping these submarines with new missiles in the future has not yet been announced.
There is reason to believe that a promising missile will become the main weapon of a new type of submarine. Since 2014, the news has regularly mentioned the development of a promising nuclear submarine project, which is planned to be brought to the stage of construction of serial equipment by the end of the next decade. According to available data, work is currently underway to form the overall appearance of a promising fifth-generation submarine, which will have to join the fleet in the long term. It is mentioned that the new project received the Husky code.
In April 2016, the head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation Alexey Rakhmanov announced interesting information about the Husky project. Among other things, a proposal is being made to create unified submarine projects. Thus, on the basis of a single platform, it will be possible to build both multipurpose nuclear submarines and strategic missile carriers. Unification of key structural elements with differences in armament will provide the best price offer for the Department of Defense.
The exact timing of the project "Husky" has not yet been determined, but different estimates are already being made. So, according to A. Rakhmanov, by 2017-18, USC plans to complete the development of projects for fourth-generation nuclear submarines. If at the same time the design of the fifth generation submarine begins, then the lead ship can be built by the end of the twenties. Accordingly, delaying the start of the project will lead to corresponding shifts in other terms.
According to previous reports, the fifth generation nuclear submarine project is currently at the stage of forming a general appearance and preliminary design. Work on the "Husky" theme is being carried out at the SPMBM "Malachite" (St. Petersburg). All available project data was derived from industry statements. Other information has not yet been officially published.
The promising nuclear submarine of the Husky project is currently being considered as a carrier of various weapons, including those implying its assignment to different classes. The possibility of using such boats as multipurpose or strategic ones is being considered. Thus, "Husky" may well become a carrier of a promising ballistic missile, the development of which was recently launched at the State Research and Development Center named after V. P. Makeeva. An alternative to ballistic missiles in the configuration of a multipurpose nuclear submarine can be anti-ship and anti-submarine missile or torpedo systems of existing or promising types. Earlier it was reported that the Husky will be the carrier of the Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missile.
Full-fledged operation of the newest Project 955 Borey submarines carrying R-30 Bulava missiles started relatively recently. Three submarines have so far been accepted into the Navy and are ready to carry out their assigned combat missions. In the foreseeable future, the fleet will receive five more strategic submarine cruisers of this type, which are being built according to the updated project 955A, with some improvements.
Operation of the Boreyev is expected to continue over the next several decades. According to the latest reports, no earlier than the end of the next decade, the Russian Navy will be able to receive new submarines of the Husky project, the development of which has begun quite recently. For some time, obviously, they will be operated in parallel with the existing Borei, after which they will have a chance to take on the main role in the naval component of the strategic nuclear forces.
Such processes will take place only in 15-20 years, but it is necessary to prepare for them now. According to recent reports, preliminary work is now underway on promising nuclear submarines and on submarine ballistic missiles. Their results will be clear only in a few years, but it is already clear that such projects are of particular importance for the country's security.
