Russian Defense Industry Continues to Flail

Russia’s new Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile failed its fourth successive launch test on Wednesday, December 9. The missile was fired from the submarine Dmitry Donskoy in the White Sea.

Russia’s RosBusinessConsulting news agency, citing defense ministry sources, reported that the failure involved the missile’s third stage.

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This was the 11th test launch of Bulava. Only five launches have been successful since tests started in 2004, but the Russian military is still committed the program. Bulava will be the main armament of the new Borei-class SSBNs. The first sub of the class - Yuri Dolgorukiy – is undergoing sea trials and is due to be commissioned in 2010. The Russian Navy plans to have 8 such submarines by 2017 to replace ageing Delta-IV class SSBNs.

Story from here.

The first flight of the Sukhoi T-50 “fifth-generation” fighter (also known as PAK-FA), has been officially postponed until next year. On December 8, RIA Novosti news agency cited Russia’s vice-premier Sergey Ivanov as saying that the new fighter will fly in 2010.

This looks like a third delay for the T-50’s first flight. At the end of 2008, Russian Air Force Commander Gen.-Col. Alexander Zelin said the jet would fly in August, but said later in 2009 that the flight should take place by year-end.

Story here.

New SLBM keeps failing (a lot) and the T-50 is at least two years behind schedule if not a lot more. The T-50 reminds me a lot of the previous attempts at flying an 'advanced' fighter for the Russians post Soviet collapse. Lots of talk, almost as many delays, and when it actually flew, not so impressive.