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Russia shakes up production of problem missile: general
Ulan Bator (AFP) Aug 26, 2009 Russia has shaken up the production of a major new missile that repeatedly failed in test firings by replacing its chief constructor and factory, the country's top general said Wednesday. Russian chief of staff General Nikolai Makarov, in a rare public comment on the issue, admitted that the repeated failures of the Bulava sea-to-surface intercontinental missile had dealt a heavy blow to morale. The Bulava, touted as the future pride of revamped Russian missile forces, has failed on more than half of its 11 test-firings when the latest launch in July ended in disaster after the missile blew up before completing the first stage. "There are serious studies going on to ensure that the mistakes that happened in the production of the missile are not allowed," Makarov told Russian reporters in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator. "The series of unsuccessful launches of course dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the constructors," he added. He said the missile's chief constructor, the head of the Moscow institute of thermotechnology Yuri Solomonov, had resigned while "the factory where the work will take place is being changed." Makarov insisted that the problems were due to the production cycle of the missile and not with particularities in its design. "I think that the industry will master it and the missile will fly." The Bulava, which can be equipped with up to 10 individually targeted nuclear warheads, has a maximum range of 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles). It is the sea-based version of the Topol-M, Russia's new surface-to-surface intercontinental missile, and designed to be launched from Moscow's newest Borei class of submarines. Reports have said that almost half the defence ministry's purchasing budget is currently being spent on development of the Bulava. pool-as-sjw/adc/co Share This Article With Planet Earth
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