Sea trials of “Yury Dolgoruky” have been postponed
Sea trials of Russia’s first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine “Yury Dolgoruky” have been postponed until spring 2009. The reasons are said to be the accident on the submarine “Nerpa” and the recent failed launch of the new “Bulava” sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile.
A high-ranking Navy source told news agency RIA Novosti that there still are issues with the placement of a nuclear reactor on board the “Yury Dolgoruky”. Sea trials have been postponed until 2009 so that Sevmash specialists could deal with the remaining problems.
Sevmash and Northern Fleet specialists conducted successful testing of the submarine’s nuclear reactor on December 16, but Russia’s state nuclear power corporation Rosatom has introduced heightened safety measures due to a recent accident on board the nuclear-powered submarine “Nerpa” and the failure of the test launch of a Bulava missile.
The accident on board the Akula-class submarine “Nerpa” occurred during sea trials in the Sea of Japan on November 8, and caused the deaths of some twenty sailors and injury to twenty-one others. A fire suppression system discharged gas in the bow of the sub, suffocating civilian specialists and navy crew members.
The failed submerged launch of the Bulava ICBM took place on December 23 from the strategic nuclear-powered submarine “Dmitry Donskoy” in the White Sea. Russia earlier planned for the Bulava to enter service with the Navy in 2009. Now more test launches from the “Dmitry Donskoy” have to be conducted before any launches from the “Yury Dolgoruky” can be made.
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