Russia’s Bulava nuclear missile

Russia has reported successfully launching a nuclear-capable Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile from its new generation Imperator Alexander III nuclear submarine


Bulava ICBM (SS-N-32) 
Range: 8,000km (estimate)

Third stage 
Carries MIRVs – multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (warheads)

Second stage booster

First stage 
All stages use solid fuel which requires minimum maintenance

Length: 11.5m
Diameter: 2m


Missiles separate from third stage motor

Each missile carries six re-entry vehicles

Each warhead has estimated yield of 100 kilotons – over six times more powerful than Hiroshima bomb


Imperator Alexander III 
Borei-A class submarine 
Speed, surface: 15 knots 
Submerged: 29 knots

Crew: 107-130, including 55 officers 
Length: 170m, beam: 13.5m

Six 533mm torpedo tubes

Propulsion: Pressurized water reactor drives pump-jet propulsion system. Lower risk of cavitation reduces sonar signature

Armament: 16 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, plus six SS-N-15 nuclear-tipped anti-ship missiles fired from torpedo tubes. Range: 45km


Sources: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Reuters
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