In the nearest future Russian Navy will include new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Liner in the inventory, reported the missile’s developer – Makeyev State Rocket Center on Oct 21.
“Flight test program implied two launches. Both of them were held successfully on May 20 and Sept 29. Presently, the interagency commission starts its phase, and then the missile system will be handed over to the Navy” , said the center’s chief designer Vladimir Degtyar whose words are cited on the company’s website.
SLBM Liner has similar flight characteristics with Sineva missile but is equipped with more advanced antimissile barrier overcoming system and has longer range. Makeyev State Rocket Center and Russian defense ministry started Liner flight tests in 2011 in accordance with state defense order.
As for Makeyev center, Liner missile outclasses all present solid-propellant ballistic missiles of Great Britain, China, Russia, the US, and France as of weight-to-thrust ratio, and is compared to American Trident-II (meeting START-3 requirements) as of combat load (four middle-power warheads).
Liner missile is capable to carry 1.5-2 times as much low-power warheads as Bulava which can be armed with six low-power warheads. Besides, Liner may carry mixed set of warheads with different yield classes.
[mappress] Source: rusnavy, October 25, 2011;