The new rocket outperforms most of its Russian and foreign counterparts in its characteristics.
Novelty of the State Missile Center named after V. I. Makeeva - "Liner", a sea-based strategic missile based on the use of solid fuel. The combat load of the new type of weapon is twice the maximum for the existing R-30 Bulava ballistic missile, which is used on submarines. The first tests of the new rocket were carried out on May 20 this year, experts recognized them as successful. Although official reports said it was the launch of the Sineva, a ballistic missile, this missile is currently the primary weapon for Project 667BDRM Dolphin submarines. The missile was launched from the nuclear submarine K-84 Yekaterinburg.
The Sineva in question is a liquid-propellant rocket. Its development was also carried out by the State Research and Development Center im. Makeev, the rocket was adopted in 2007. The missile is characterized by a high degree of reliability, despite this, the leaders of the RF Ministry of Defense and the command of the Navy have repeatedly stated that it is outdated for a long time. However, it would be more correct to attribute this statement to the Project 667 BRDM submarines themselves, and not to their armament.
In the late nineties, the command approved an idea presented by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, which proposed the development of sea-based ballistic missiles based on solid fuel. This idea was personally promoted by Yuri Solomonov, head of MIT. Once he created the notorious "Topol", but at that time he was able to convince the high authorities that the adaptation of his missiles for arming submarines would take place in a short time and more economically than the creation of new ones. As a result of numerous and expensive experiments, often unsuccessful, a solid-propellant missile "Bulava" was created, about which the media wrote many times.
The consequence of many failures was the removal of Solomonov from work on the project, leaving him the opportunity to deal only with his brainchild - Topols, carrying out their deep modification with the new Yars multiple warhead. Technologies from Bulava production have changed significantly, as a result of which the latest launches are being successful. At the same time, the construction of submarines 955 "Borey", which are designed specifically for the missile "Bulava", is underway. Indeed, until recently, they were seriously talking about the prospect of the Navy to receive powerful nuclear submarines worth hundreds of billions and remain without weapons for them. The first successful launch of the Bulava from the Borei-class nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruky took place on 28 June. Previously, all launches took place from the Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine (Akula class).
And now the Makeyev State Missile Center, MIT's long-standing competitor, declares that its new development "Liner" is much more powerful than the "Bulava". Moreover, MIT has always argued that Bulava is capable of carrying a load of six to ten nuclear units up to 150 kilotons each, and the SRC im. Makeeva states that in reality their number does not exceed six units of small power class. "Liner" can carry from nine to twelve blocks, that is, one and a half to two times more, moreover, the new missile can be equipped simultaneously with warheads of different power.
The Liner solid-propellant missile surpasses all existing missiles of this type, developed in Great Britain, China, the USA, France and Russia itself, in terms of its payload-to-launch mass ratio. Combat equipment, which includes four blocks belonging to the middle power class, does not lag behind the American Trident-2, which is also four-block, in START-3 conditions.
The Rocket Center reports that the Sineva and Liner missile systems will ensure the existence of the north-western grouping of Project 667BDRM submarines for a period of 35-40 years, that is, practically until 2030. In addition, several options for weapons will make it possible to respond to changes in military-political conditions.
One of the main representatives of the Russian military department said that it is wrong to compare the Liner and Bulava, since the former is a solid-fuel version of the RSM-54 Sineva. The liquid-fuel Sineva already in service is superior to the solid-fuel Bulava in terms of power and range. Despite this, it was decided to use solid-propellant marine ballistic missiles in the future. But liquid-fuel ones will not be immediately removed from service, since they are used by Project 667 BDRM submarines. Therefore, the improvement of Sineva missiles, including in the Liner direction, will allow these submarine missile carriers to remain in the combat fleet for the years that will take the transition to the newest Borei.
