Russia modernizes its superpowerful Bulava missile to crush USA’s ABM system
http://english.pravda.ru/russia/politics/87498-0/ Military rivalry has always played an important part in the international relations. Russia and the U.S. used to be engaged in a sort of competition on the world market of arms and military equipment by actively supplying them to a number of regimes at the Middle East and Asia. Now the rule of the game is based on an equal reaction taken by one party for every action of the other one. It is hard to tell who set the ball in motion. By and large, Russia had moved forward slowly yet consistently in the past, without taking note of any other competitors. Russian military strategists still use the term “indicated enemy” for referring exclusively to the U.S. Likewise, U.S. military uses the same term in relation to Russia. The plans for the development of anti-missile defense system announced by U.S. President Bush were probably the first step that led to the latest round of escalation in terms of military rivalry.
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he Bulava was supposed to be deployed on nuclear submarines. In other words, it was supposed to become a mobile weapon. The enemy would have to build a wide net of anti-missile defense system for covering North America from coast to coast. In response to Russia’s plans, the U.S. decided to deploy assets of its anti-missile defense system in Poland and Czech Republic. The reasons behind the deployment of the system are obvious. The system will be capable of intercepting Iran’s ballistic missiles only if they should fly across Russia’s airspace. The latest test launch of the Bulava that failed for a third time in the last four months seemed to become Russia’s reply to the U.S. plans.
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The Bulava was supposed to become a powerful weapon that can be launched from any location around the globe. One missile is capable of destructing about ten targets, each the size of a city. The R-30 (SS-NX-30) intercontinental ballistic missile was developed on the basis of the Topol-M, a similar land-based missile. The Bulava were to be deployed on new submarines of Borei class. One submarine will carry 12 missiles aboard. The Bulava is equipped with 10 warheads; each of the warheads can be programmed for independent target acquisition. In other words, one submarine will be capable of hitting 120 targets while operating in any part of the world, the Arctic and Antarctic inclusive.
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Many analysts pointed out a direct link between the Bulava deployment plans and President Putin’s second presidency, which is drawing to a close. The Americans are confident that “there was no lack of funding for Russia’s state weapons procurement program. In a situation when the world oil prices are on the increase, and Russia has become one of the world’s largest energy exporters, the Russian government is spending a record amount of money on the modernization of strategic missiles. The funds currently allocated for the purpose exceed the total spending over the last 25 years,” United Press International reports. As for those responsible for spreading secret information, steps have been taken too. According to the Russian media, three officers with the Russian Defense Ministry and naval headquarters were discharged from service several days after the first reports about the December 24 failure were published. The officers reportedly leaked information to the press.
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I remember a time when Putin went to Bush's ranch and they liked each other
How times change
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