Development of strategic nuclear fleet under threat?

[Kshasty]

Source: RIA Novosti

The unsuccessful Bulava missile test calls into question the entire development strategy Russia has chosen for its strategic nuclear forces. At present the Russian Navy plans to introduce eight Project 955 submarines armed with 16 R-30 Bulava ballistic missiles for strategic nuclear purposes in the next 10 to 12 years. The failed missile test calls these plans into question.

At present, the first Project 955 ballistic missile submarine, the Yuri Dolgoruky, is being tested, while another two - the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh - are expected to be launched in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Construction is slated to begin on the fourth submarine in the series - called the Svyatitel Nikolai according to some sources - on December 22, 2009.

After the failed Bulava missile test on December 9, 2009, the issue was raised once again of the feasibility of the current plan and possible alternatives to the Bulava.

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20091218/157286164.html

[SergeStorms]

1. I thought it was OUR nuclear fleet...........

that was under threat. :woohoo: No such luck, huh? The Pentagon black hole continues to pull in every dollar that comes within it's gravitational pull. :grr: America is all about guns, but not so much butter.

[Johnboi70]

2. Wow... check out the crazy batsh!t stuff on Pravda's English language site!!

The old Soviet saying goes like this, "There's no news in Izvesita and no truth in Pravda. В Известии не известиа а в Правде не правда!!

http://www.newsfromrussia.com/world/

[nicky187]

3. Nothing new here.

Russians have been innovators in their submarine fleet for a long time, thanks to the leadership of Fleet Admiral Sergei Gorshkov.

They'll get this difficulty ironed out sooner or later, and we'll be back under conditions just like the "good old days."

[AverageJoe5]

4. Will sanctions be imposed on Russia?

Will the "world powers" rebuke and impose sanctions on Russia for developing this nuclear weapons fleet, in the same way that they are harassing Iran for its civilian nuclear program?

A provision in the NPT calls on nuclear-weapons states (Russia, etc.) to get rid of their nuclear weapons. Not only is Russia not getting rid of their nuclear weapons; they are expanding and improving their nuclear weapons capabilities, which is a clear violation of the NPT.

[Johnboi70]

5. Russia has had a nuclear fleet since the 1970s, if not earlier. This is not a new development. n/t

[AverageJoe5]

6. Russia is violating the NPT

Russia's enhancement of its nuclear weapons capability violates the NPT provision in which the nuclear-weapons States declare their intention " ... to achieve at the earliest possible date the cessation of the nuclear arms race and to undertake effective measures in the direction of nuclear disarmament ....."

Iran is being punished even though there is no evidence that Iran has violated any NPT requirement. If there were no hypocrisy or double standard, Russia would be punished for clearly violating the NPT declaration quoted above.