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Ballistic & hypersonic

RSM-56 Bulava

SS-N-32 (R-30 / 3M30)
Strategic RU

Submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile (SLBM), nuclear, MIRV

The standard armament of Russia's Borei and Borei-A class strategic submarines (Project 955/955A), each with 16 launch tubes. It was designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT), which also built the Topol-M and Yars, and is produced at Votkinsk. Development was troubled, with a string of failed launches between 2004 and 2013; every reported launch since 2017 has succeeded. It was formally accepted in May 2024. With eight Borei boats in the Northern and Pacific Fleets, the Bulava is the sea-based leg of Russia's nuclear triad. Range, warhead count and accuracy are Western estimates.

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Dimensionsfor imagery analysis

Length
11.5 m without warhead; 12.1 m in launch container
Diameter
2.0 m (launch container 2.1 m)
Launch weight
36,800 kg (CSIS: estimate 36–39 t)
Dimension sources
Wikipedia; CSIS Missile Threat

General

Role
Sea-based strategic nuclear deterrence (second-strike capability)
Design / production
MITT (chief designer Yuri Solomonov); produced by the Votkinsk Plant
In service
Experimental service from Jan 2013; formally accepted by decree of 7 May 2024 (Solomonov to TASS, 14 May 2024). TASS already reported an acceptance in 2018 — sources differ
Carrier
Borei (Project 955) and Borei-A (955A), 16 launch tubes per boat
Fleet (Jul 2025)
8 boats in service: Northern Fleet 3 (Yury Dolgorukiy, Knyaz Vladimir, Knyaz Pozharsky), Pacific Fleet 5 (Aleksandr Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh, Knyaz Oleg, Generalissimus Suvorov, Imperator Aleksandr III)

Weapon

Propulsion
Three solid-fuel stages (CSIS); Wikipedia lists a liquid third stage / post-boost — uncertain
Warhead
MIRV: usually 6 × ≈ 150 kt, theoretical maximum 10 (100–150 kt) — estimate
Throw-weight
1,150 kg (declared under START)
Range
≈ 8,300 km (CSIS, Wikipedia); Russian figures up to ≈ 9,300 km — depends on payload
Accuracy (CEP)
≈ 250–350 m — estimate, not officially published
Guidance
Inertial, possibly with astro-inertial and/or GLONASS updates — unconfirmed

Threat

Test history
Troubled development: failed launches in 2004, 2006 (three times), 2008, 2009 (including the 'Norwegian spiral' of 9 Dec 2009) and 2013; every reported launch since 2017 has succeeded
Latest launch (Oct 2026)
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence (28 Oct 2026), the Generalissimus Suvorov (K-553, Pacific Fleet) fired a Bulava from a submerged position in the Sea of Okhotsk at the Chizha test range (Arkhangelsk Oblast) as scheduled combat training; no date or distance given — source: UNITED24 / Army Recognition / TASS, RU Mil Tracker e-20261030-07; Russian MoD claim, not independently confirmed
Countermeasure
No practical defence against a salvo; deterrence and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) against the carrier boats
Threat level
Strategic — sea-based leg of Russia's nuclear triad

News archive 3

Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.

  1. Russia's Borei-A submarine Generalissimus Suvorov test-fires a Bulava SLBM from the Sea of Okhotsk at the Chizha range

    The Russian Ministry of Defence and the Pacific Fleet announced on 28 October 2026 that the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Generalissimus Suvorov (K-553) had fired a Bulava intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile from a submerged position in the Sea of Okhotsk. According to the ministry, the missile was aimed at the Chizha t…

    VariantDeploymentRU Mil Tracker · 3 sources

  2. Ukrainian intelligence: Russia to test new ballistic missile with ~800 km range, possibly by striking western Ukraine

    Ukraine's military intelligence directorate (HUR) says Russia is preparing final tests of a new ballistic missile with a range of up to roughly 800 kilometers before the end of 2026. The statement was made by Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of the HUR, at a session of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council on 8 September 2026. The HUR attri…

    PerformanceRU Mil Tracker · 2 sources

  3. Russia's Drone Defenses Are Getting Absurd: 'Barbecue' Cages Now Cover Ship Guns

    SINGLE SOURCE — Ukrainian publication (Defense Express), not independently corroborated.

    RU Mil Tracker · 1 source
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