Recently, there has been an increased amount of controversy regarding the future of domestic rocketry. Supporters of the “everything is lost” concept refer to the unsuccessful launches of the R-30 Bulava missile, while their opponents remind that any more or less complex project will not work immediately and as it should. More advanced amateurs of rocketry know about the existence of the RS-24 "Yars" and about its adoption. But until recently, only the “elite” knew about yet another newest project - Р29RMU2.1 "Liner".
We cannot say for sure why information about this missile has not received the proper distribution, but the reasons seem to be standard: the developer (Miass SRC named after Makeev) and the customer (the RF Ministry of Defense) did not expand on the work that had begun. Moreover, the Liner is, after all, the modernization of the already existing serial rocket R-29RMU2 Sineva, and the Bulava, about which there has been so much talk, is a completely new project.
For the first time the general public became aware of the Liner at the end of May this year. On May 20, the Yekaterinburg submarine (Northern Fleet), while in the Barents Sea, conducted the first launch of a new missile at a target at the Kura training ground (Kamchatka). The Liner successfully flew to the range and hit all the training targets. The launch was considered successful, although, most likely, some improvements were required. In any case, this happens in any test.
More recently, on September 29, another Liner set off on its voyage from the Tula boat of the Northern Fleet as well. The shooting was carried out, as usual, at training targets at the Kamchatka range. The second launch was also considered successful. In addition, it was carried out as part of government trials. According to their results, the R-29RMU2.1 "Liner" rocket was recommended for serial production and adoption.
The actual adoption and start of serial production is scheduled to begin this winter. The first "Liner" should be received by the Northern Fleet.
Like Sineva, the Liner will be installed on Project 667BDRM Dolphin submarines. At the moment, the boats of this project are the backbone of the missile-carrying submarine fleet: the previous boats of Project 667BDR Kalmar are already being decommissioned, and Project 955 Borey has not yet entered service.
Thus, the fleet needs a rocket that is compatible with the "old" boats of the 667 family, but at the same time fully meets modern requirements.
To this end, in 2009, the GRTs them. Makeev began design work to improve the Sineva ballistic missile. R-29RMU2.1 retained its weight and size parameters from its predecessor: length approx. 15 meters, diameter 1, 9 and weight just over 40 tons. The design is also three-stage. The power plant, as in the "Sinev", runs on liquid fuel, but the engines develop more thrust than the predecessor rocket.
The flight range, depending on the chosen load, ranges from 8300 to 11000 kilometers. The degree of unification of missiles is not known exactly, but it can be assumed that this figure exceeds at least 70-80%.
It is worth remembering that almost all available information on the Liner is taken from the official press release and the recently published book "Naval Strategic Missile Systems". This guide was published a few weeks ago by the State Research and Development Center im. Makeev, and got into "circulation" thanks to the participant of the VIF2NE forum Alexander Stukalin. There are no other official sources yet, but this is a temporary nuisance.
In any case, in the book of the GRTs im. Makeev has written enough to have an idea of what the Liner is and what it is for. First, this missile is designed to become a promising weapon for missile submarines. Thanks to the Liner, the boats of the 667BDRM project will be able to be in service and solve the assigned tasks, at least until the end of the 2020s. During this time, the Russian submarine fleet will have time to receive all the planned Borei armed with Bulava. In addition, by the beginning of the 30s of the century, a project for a new generation boat must appear.
Secondly, the new missile, taking into account the planned terms of its operation, should have newer equipment, as well as better "ability" to overcome enemy missile defense.
The composition of the "gifts" that the "Liner" brings to the enemy can now be different. A new warhead can be installed on the rocket jointly developed by the Research Institute of Thermal Engineering and the All-Russian Research Institute of Technical Physics. It is similar to those already put into service as part of the Topol-M-Yars complex and available as part of the Bulava. This warhead is installed on the Liner without any design changes, but only through the use of special adapters, cables and a landing platform. Full support of the new unit is also provided by the onboard electronics of the rocket.
If we talk about the combat load, the book "Naval Strategic Missile Systems" states that the R-29RMU2.1 can carry up to ten low-yield warheads. If equipment for countering the enemy's missile defense is added to them, then the number of warheads is reduced to eight. The Liner carries four blocks of medium power, and electronic warfare units are immediately included with them. In addition to loading the warhead with the same blocks, it is possible to install several warheads of different power on the missile, which also increases the missile's combat potential.
Thus, in the GRTs them. Makeev were able to create a submarine missile of sufficient combat power, fully complying with all strategic arms treaties.
To operate the Liner missiles, a new digital computer complex Arbat-U2.1 is being installed on the submarine. It allows you to carry out all the calculations and operations necessary for launch, taking into account the load available to the rocket and a number of other data.
In general, "Liner", being a deep modernization of the R-29RM missile, created back in the 80s, is at least not inferior to foreign analogues, and surpasses them in a number of parameters.
