Over the past decades, ballistic missile submarines have been one of the most important components of strategic nuclear forces. Due to their secrecy, such carriers of weapons can literally get lost in the oceans and, having received an order, strike at enemy targets. The high combat potential of strategic missile submarines has led to the fact that all large and developed states are building or are going to build such equipment for their naval forces.
It should be noted that nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles (SSBNs) are currently available only to the countries of the "nuclear club", which is associated with a number of various factors: from the complexity of the construction and operation of such ships to the peculiarities of their combat work. At the same time, the leading states of the world already have a wealth of experience in operating SSBNs. So, in the USA and the USSR, similar ships appeared in the sixties of the last century, and subsequently the operation of such submarines began in several more countries.
All owners of SSBNs not only operate the existing equipment, but also develop plans to update it or replace it with new models. Some countries are already building new missile submarines, while others are still working on new projects. Let us consider promising projects with the help of which the countries of the "nuclear club" plan to renew the naval component of their strategic nuclear forces.
Russia
For twenty years, the Russian Navy has not received new ballistic missile submarines. It should be noted that in domestic practice, instead of the term SSBN, it is customary to use the abbreviation SSBN (strategic missile submarine cruiser). The last Soviet-built missile cruiser (K-407 "Novomoskovsk", project 667BDRM) was accepted into the fleet in 1990. The next SSBN replenished the combat strength of the Navy only at the end of 2012. It was the head submarine of Project 955 Borey - K-535 Yuri Dolgoruky, built since 1996. The Yuri Dolgoruky submarine was the first step in the renewal of the naval component of the strategic nuclear forces.
At present, Russian shipbuilders are implementing a program for the construction of eight new Project 955 SSBNs. Three ships have already been built, tested and accepted into the Navy. Three more buildings are currently in various stages of construction. In 2015, it is planned to lay down the seventh and eighth boats of the series. Thus, by the end of the decade, it is planned to build and commission eight new submarines. It should be noted that only three SSBNs of the series (already built "Yuri Dolgoruky", "Alexander Nevsky" and "Vladimir Monomakh") belong to the basic project 955. Starting with the third serial ("Prince Vladimir"), the submarines are built according to the updated project 955A, which differs from the base with a number of features, equipment composition, etc.
New submarines of projects 955 and 955A have an underwater displacement of 24 thousand tons and a total length of 170 m. Such dimensions allow equipping new submarines with 16 launchers of the D-30 missile system. The main strike weapons of the Borey-class SSBNs are the R-30 Bulava ballistic missiles. These missiles are capable of flying at a range of up to 8-9 thousand km and carry a multiple warhead with individual warheads. According to open data, with a launch weight of 36, 8 tons, the R-30 rocket carries a throw weight of more than 1100 kg.
As a result of the construction of eight submarines, the Russian Navy will be able to simultaneously keep deployed up to 128 ballistic missiles of a new type. For comparison, the fleet's three Project 667BDR Kalmar SSBNs and six Project 667BDRM Dolphin submarines in total are capable of carrying the same number of missiles. Nevertheless, in view of the gradual withdrawal of the outdated Kalmar from the fleet, the maximum possible number of deployed missiles will be reduced. The new submarines of projects 955 and 955A should compensate for this reduction in quantitative terms, as well as improve the quality indicators of the strategic submarine fleet.
The completion of the construction of a series of eight Boreyevs in the medium term will make it possible to preserve and even to a certain extent increase the strike potential of the naval component of the Russian nuclear triad. Several years ago, the issue of building more SSBNs of project 955 / 955A was actively discussed. It was proposed to increase the series to 10 or even 12 buildings. However, the current State Armaments Program, calculated until 2020, provides for only eight Boreyevs. Nevertheless, this does not negate the possibility of continuing the construction of such submarines at the end of the State program.
Do not forget that our country is unable to build a large number of Boreyevs, both for economic and military-political reasons. Russia is complying with the terms of the START III Treaty, which limits the maximum possible number of deployed nuclear warheads and their carriers. Thus, the required number of new SSBNs should be determined not only in accordance with the country's financial capabilities, but also taking into account various aspects of the formation and development of strategic nuclear forces, primarily the distribution of carriers and charges between the land, sea and aviation components.
USA
Since the early eighties, the United States Navy has operated Ohio-class SSBNs. The original plan involved the construction of 24 such submarines, but in the end it was reduced and only 18 were built. At the beginning of the 2000s, it was decided to reduce the number of strategic missile carriers by converting them into multipurpose nuclear submarines. From 2002 to 2010, four Ohio boats underwent repair and corresponding modernization. Thus, at present, only 14 Ohio-class SSBNs remain in the US Navy.
The main weapons of the first eight Ohio SSBNs were Trident I C4 missiles. Later boats were built according to an updated project, in accordance with which they received the Trident II D5 missile system. In the second half of the last decade, all existing submarines of this type were converted to use newer missiles. Despite the installation of new equipment, the number of launchers did not change. All Ohio-class missile carriers have 24 launchers. Trident II D5 missiles are capable of carrying 12 warheads at a range of up to 11.3 thousand km.
According to the existing plans of the Pentagon, the Ohio-class submarines in the version of strategic missile carriers will remain in the naval forces, at least until the end of the twenties. It is planned to decommission the first of these submarines only by 2030. By this time, the construction of new submarines should have begun. The promising project has not yet received its own designation, which is why it still appears under the names Ohio Replacement Submarine and SSBN-X. The "full" name should appear later, when the development of the project is completed and the construction of new SSBNs starts.
In 2007, preliminary work began to formulate the requirements and determine the financial aspects of the new project. Calculations showed that submarines capable of replacing existing Ohio-class SSBNs would cost the budget about $ 4 billion each. In the future, other prices were called, up to 8 billion per boat. There is still debate about the number of submarines needed. So far, it is believed that 12 new submarines will be enough to replace the existing equipment.
At the end of the last decade, the approximate timing of the project was determined. According to calculations, in order to make it to the end of the twenties, it was required to start design work in 2014. At the same time, the design of SSBN-X SSBNs should have taken about 60 million man-hours. In accordance with plans for 2011, construction of the lead submarine Ohio Replacement should begin in 2019. It should be launched in 2026, and the next three years will be spent on testing. However, a little later it was announced that for a number of reasons the program was slightly behind this schedule.
In the spring of last year, the command of the US Navy and shipbuilders completed the formation of the appearance of promising SSBNs. The main requirements and design features of new ships were determined. In the future, all work will proceed in accordance with this document, which, as expected, will make it possible to complete all the necessary work in a timely manner.
Some requirements for promising American submarines are known. They will have a total length of about 170 m and a width of about 13 m. The underwater displacement may exceed 20-21 thousand tons. The expected service life of the submarines is 42 years. During this time, each of the SSBN-X will have to complete more than 120 campaigns and combat patrols. The boats should receive a new nuclear reactor that does not need to be replaced with fuel during service. One gas station should be enough for more than 40 years of operation.
Trident II D5 ballistic missiles are currently being considered as the main armament for Ohio Replacement SSBNs. Each submarine will be able to carry 16 of these missiles in vertical launchers. Earlier it was reported that the ammunition of the new submarine missile carriers could be reduced to 12 missiles, but there was no confirmation of this. In addition to missiles, the submarines will receive torpedo tubes. High combat effectiveness is supposed to be ensured by reducing noise and using the most modern types of onboard equipment.
Submarine ballistic missiles are considered the main strike weapon of the US strategic nuclear forces. The 14 existing Ohio-class SSBNs can carry up to 336 Trident II D5 missiles. The total ammunition of the SSBN-X planned for construction will be noticeably less: up to 192 missiles (12 boats, 16 missiles each). This may mean that in the long term, the United States intends to change the structure of the distribution of carriers and deployed warheads between the existing components of the nuclear triad. In addition, this may indicate that the Pentagon plans to reduce strategic nuclear forces, transferring part of their functions to new systems of the so-called. lightning-fast global strike.
United Kingdom
In 1993, the Royal Navy of Great Britain received the lead submarine of the Vanguard project. By the end of the decade, four SSBNs of this type were built and handed over to the customer. These submarines replaced the outdated Resolution-class ships and, in fact, were their further development. In terms of size and displacement, the existing British SSBNs are inferior to some foreign ships of their class. So, they have a length of about 150 m and an underwater displacement of 15, 9 thousand tons. At the same time, Vanguard-type boats carry 16 Trident II D5 ballistic missiles.
Britain's strategic nuclear forces have several specific features. First of all, it should be noted that in the mid-nineties, the last ICBM and the last nuclear warhead used by the Air Force were decommissioned, after which all the tasks of nuclear deterrence began to be assigned to the Navy. However, in the case of the Royal Navy, there were some interesting, but controversial decisions related to both the construction and armament of submarines.
Initially, it was planned to build 6-7 Vanguard-class submarines, but the end of the Cold War made it possible to save on costs, reducing the series to 4 ships. Thus, in theory, the Royal Navy could hold up to 64 ballistic missiles deployed. However, only 58 American-made missiles were leased to arm the new SSBNs. In addition, the missiles were equipped with combat equipment reduced by half, which is why on board one submarine instead of 96 warheads, no more than 48 can be present. Such economic and technical decisions were due to the intention to constantly keep on duty only one submarine out of four.
Since the late nineties, various programs have been developed in Great Britain aimed at ensuring strategic security, including through nuclear weapons. Various ideas have been proposed, but most of them have not yet reached implementation in practice. When developing such plans, much attention is paid to the existing SSBNs armed with American-made missiles. According to the authors of some proposals, this technique needs to be replaced or at least modernized. The situation is further complicated by the fact that, according to various estimates, the lead Vanguard submarine will only be able to serve until the end of this decade, after which it will need to be decommissioned and replaced.
In 2006, the UK Department of Defense drew up a preliminary plan for the modernization of the strategic nuclear forces. In accordance with it, it was planned to spend about 25 billion pounds. This amount included expenses for the reconstruction of the naval infrastructure, for the development of nuclear warheads and for participation in the Trident II D5 missile modernization project. At the same time, most of the money (up to 11-14 billion) should have gone to the construction of new SSBNs. There was also a proposal to modernize existing strategic missile carriers using modern components and technologies. It was assumed that such an upgrade would extend the life of the Vanguard boats by at least 5 years.
In the spring of 2011, the British government approved a revised version of the $ 25 billion program. By this time, some requirements were formed for promising submarines. The SSBN, codenamed Trident - if built - will be able to carry the Trident II D5 missiles used by the existing Vanguards. Promising submarines should receive a new nuclear reactor, and their equipment will be created using the developments in the Astute multipurpose nuclear submarine project.
The development of the Trident project has not yet begun. The final decision on the fate of this project will be made only in 2016. It was then that the military and political leadership of Great Britain should analyze the submitted proposals and draw appropriate conclusions. If it is decided to build new SSBNs of our own design, then the lead boat of the new project will be transferred to the Royal Navy around 2028.
For a number of reasons, the fate of the Trident project or another British program designed to update the SSBN fleet is still in question. It is already clear that this project will be very expensive for the budget. In addition, doubts are expressed about the ability of the UK to build such equipment. There is a proposal according to which the British military should abandon the project of its own design and take part in the American Ohio Replacement program. Nevertheless, the UK Department of Defense has not yet decided on its plans, and the parliament continues to discuss the prospects for renewing the strategic nuclear forces and even the feasibility of their preservation in the future.
France
From 1997 to 2010, the French naval forces received four Triomphant-class SSBNs. These submarine missile carriers replaced the outdated Redoutable submarines. After the complete abandonment of land-based ballistic missiles, the new SSBNs became the backbone of France's strategic nuclear forces. Submarines 138 m long and an underwater displacement of 14, 3 thousand tons are equipped with 16 launchers for French ballistic missiles. In addition, the submarines are armed with torpedoes.
The lead and the first two serial Triomphant-class SSBNs carried M45 ballistic missiles developed by Aérospatiale. This weapon allows you to attack targets at ranges of up to 6 thousand km. Missiles with a launch weight of 35 tons carry six TN 75 warheads with a 110 kt thermonuclear charge. The M45 missiles are a further development of the older M4s used on Redoutable class submarines since the mid-eighties. The main difference between the two missiles is the flight range: during the modernization, the maximum value of this parameter was increased by 20%. It is known that in the mid-nineties a contract was signed for the supply of 48 M45 missiles. Thus, the delivered missiles made it possible to fully equip all submarines planned for construction. Provided the ability to simultaneously patrol two SSBNs out of four available.
The first submarine of the Triomphant project has been in service for a little over 20 years, the fourth - less than 5 years. Thus, these submarines do not yet need major repairs or replacement. At the same time, however, even before the end of the construction of the existing boats, it was decided to develop a modernization project. According to the updated version of the project, the last SSBN of the series was built - Terrible. The main difference between the basic and modified projects lies in the weapons used. The fourth submarine in the series received the new M51 missile. With similar dimensions, this missile is heavier than the previous M45 (launch weight - 52 tons), and also has a long range - 8-10 thousand km. The combat equipment of the M45 and M51 missiles is the same. The development of a new warhead with blocks of increased power is underway.
Despite some problems at the test stage, the M51 rocket is completely satisfactory for the French military. For this reason, in the future, such weapons should be received by all existing Triomphant-type SSBNs. During the planned repairs, it is planned to equip the first three submarines of the series with new equipment. The second serial submarine Vigilant should receive the first new weapon, then the head Triomphant will be refurbished, and the last will be Téméraire. All such works are expected to be completed by the end of this decade.
An interesting fact is that France is not yet going to build new SSBNs. To increase the potential of the strategic nuclear forces, it is proposed to develop and introduce new missiles with improved characteristics. This method will allow you to maintain the required combat capability for a long time, as well as save on the construction of new submarines.
China
In the early eighties, it became known that the Chinese shipbuilders handed over to the naval forces of the People's Liberation Army of China a submarine of the "Type 092" project. According to some reports, another such submarine was subsequently built, but reliable evidence of its existence did not appear. There is a version that the second SSBN of the project died in the mid-eighties.
The robust hull of the Type 092 submarine contains 12 missile launchers. During the service, the submarine has undergone a number of upgrades and is currently carrying JL-1A missiles. This weapon does not differ in novelty and high performance. The rocket, created in the early eighties, with a launch weight of just under 15 tons, can deliver a monoblock warhead to a range of no more than 2500 km. Thus, the Type 092 submarine with JL-1A missiles can be considered an experimental model and a technology demonstrator. The lagging behind the technology of the leading countries of the world in terms of characteristics hardly allows this SSBN to be used as a full-fledged means of nuclear deterrence.
In the first half of the 2000s, China started the construction of new SSBNs of the Type 094 project. According to reports, it was planned to build 5 or 6 ships of this type. According to American intelligence, 5 submarines eventually left the stocks. These submarines with an underwater displacement of about 11 thousand tons must carry 12 or 16 ballistic missiles. The first version of the project involves the use of 12 launchers, but several years ago there were images of SSBN "Type 094" with 16 similar systems. Probably, Chinese specialists have developed an updated version of the project.
Type 094 submarines carry JL-2 ballistic missiles. According to some sources, this missile for the fleet was developed on the basis of the "land" DF-31, which affected its appearance. The JL-2 missile with a launch weight of about 42 tons, according to some estimates, carries up to 2-2.5 tons of combat load. There is no exact information about the combat equipment. JL-2 is equipped with liquid engines providing a flight range of about 7.5-8 thousand km.
The naval component of China's strategic nuclear forces is not distinguished by a large number of carrier submarines. Nevertheless, this country is doing everything possible to develop such an important area. Over the past several years, there has been a discussion of a new project of the Chinese SSBN, known under the designation "Type 096". Previously, China has demonstrated the layout of such a submarine, which allows you to make some assumptions. Promising submarines should be larger than the existing ones. In addition, there is reason to believe that the Type 096 will carry 24 missiles. Presumably, the main weapon of the new Chinese SSBNs will be JL-3 missiles with a range of up to 10-11 thousand km.
The status of the Type 096 project is unknown. Official reports on the construction or start of operation of such submarines have not yet been received. Nevertheless, according to rumors, the lead boat Type 096 has already been built and is being tested.
As it stands, China's strategic nuclear forces are clearly skewed towards land-based missile systems. All five Type 094 submarines can carry no more than 80 JL-1A and JL-2 missiles, but the exact number of products of this type is unknown. According to some estimates, China has no more than 100-120 ballistic missiles of various types with nuclear warheads, including several dozen JL-2s. Thus, it cannot be ruled out that the PLA Navy does not have the necessary number of such missiles to simultaneously arm all the existing Type 094 SSBNs.
China is currently actively developing its naval forces, including nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles. Claiming global leadership, China is engaged in many new projects in several areas, and SSBNs are no exception. Therefore, it is quite possible that in the very near future there will be information about new projects of submarines and ballistic missiles for them.
India
At the end of 2015, India will join the narrow circle of SSBN owners. In this country, not so long ago, the construction of the Arihant submarine, which is the lead ship of the project of the same name, was completed. The Arihant submarine is to become the first strategic missile submarine in the Indian naval forces. The adoption of the new submarine into the combat composition of the Navy will become a point in a long and complex program for the development of a strategic missile carrier, which started back in the mid-eighties.
Currently, the construction of the second submarine of the new project is underway. It is planned to launch it in mid-2015 and send it for testing in 2017. In addition, there are contracts for the construction of two more submarines. In total, it is planned to build six new-type SSBNs. In addition, there is information about the development of two variants of the project, differing in the composition of weapons.
Initially, the main weapon of the Arihant-class submarines was to be the K-15 Sagarika two-stage solid-propellant short-range ballistic missiles. India does not yet have the technology needed to create small ICBMs, which is why new submarines have to be armed with shorter-range weapons. The K-15 missile with a launch weight of no more than 7 tons is capable of flying at a range of up to 700 km and carrying a payload weighing 1 ton. An increase in the range to 1900 km is possible, but in this case the weight of the warhead is reduced to 180 kg. The Sagarika product can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.
The development of a new medium-range missile K-4 is underway. With a launch weight of 17 tons and a solid-propellant engine, this rocket will have to fly at a range of about 3.5 thousand km. The throw weight of the K-4 can exceed 2 tons. In September 2013, the first test launch of a new missile from a special underwater platform took place. On March 24, 2014, the prototype rocket successfully lifted from a depth of 30 m and arrived at the test site, having covered about 3 thousand km. The tests continue. The exact dates for the adoption of the new missile into service are still unknown.
After the completion of the construction of SSBNs of the "Arihant" project, it is planned to begin construction of submarines of a new type. For obvious reasons, the characteristics of these submarines have not yet been determined. The construction of promising submarines will begin no earlier than the middle of the next decade. Their armament can be K-4 medium-range missiles or promising K-5 intercontinental missiles. The development of the K-5 rocket is in its early stages, which is why most of the information about it is missing. According to some reports, this product will be able to hit targets at ranges of up to 6 thousand km.
Present and future
As you can see, all countries that have nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles not only operate such equipment, but are also developing promising projects. New submarines and ballistic missiles for them are being created or planned to be created. At the same time, new projects have a number of interesting features.
So, the Indian Navy has not yet received its first SSBN "Arihant", which is now being tested. Only by the end of this decade will the Indian fleet have several short-range ballistic missile submarines. The current work can be considered a test of strength in the construction of the naval component of the strategic nuclear forces, which may be followed by certain successes. The possible future of India's SSBNs can be seen in the example of similar projects in China. The stage of construction and testing of the first submarines of this class was passed by China in the eighties, and now this country is engaged in full-scale, within its capabilities, the construction of new submarine missile carriers.
The plans of Great Britain and France are interesting. They have a small "nuclear" submarine fleet, which, however, needs updating. In this regard, the British military are considering various options for modernizing their SSBNs or building new submarines of this class. France, in turn, solved the existing problems at the end of the last decade by building one Triomphant submarine according to the updated project and starting a modernization program for its three "sister ships". The new missiles, combined with quite modern submarines, should provide a strike capability that meets the requirements of the French military strategy.
While other countries are choosing between construction and modernization, Russia and the United States are implementing new projects. The United States is preparing to start developing a new SSBN project designed to replace existing Ohio-class boats. The first submarine of the new type will have to begin service in the late twenties. Russia, in turn, is already building new submarine missile carriers, which are entrusted with the task of nuclear deterrence. It is noteworthy that the new Russian submarines are armed with a new model, the R-30 Bulava, and the promising American SSBN-X, at least for some time, will carry fairly old Trident II D5 missiles.
All countries armed with SSBNs are engaged in the development and modernization of this technology. Depending on financial, industrial and other capabilities, states choose the most appropriate methods for preserving and developing their combat potential. Nevertheless, despite the methods of development used, all such projects have a common goal: they are intended to ensure the security of their country, and since we are talking about nuclear deterrence, the whole world.
