Nuclear Perspective: US modernizes missiles for submarines
The Pentagon has signed a contract to create a modernized ballistic missile for submarines "Trident-2". This was announced by Lockheed Martin Corporation. Thus, the U.S. is beginning a program to upgrade the naval component of its nuclear triad. What is the current state of the naval nuclear forces of the main members of the nuclear club and how the arsenals will change in the future - in the material of "Izvestia".
New US missile system
Lockheed Martin Corporation has signed a $383 million contract with the US Navy to develop a modernized version of the Trident-2 missile under the designation Trident II D5 Life Extension 2 (D5LE2). They will be used to arm advanced nuclear-powered submarine-launched missile carriers of the Columbia type, as well as advanced British submarines of the Dreadnought type.
Completion of construction and adoption into service of the first such boats will happen not earlier than 2030-2031, but the missiles are planned to begin production earlier, as it is necessary to pass tests and missiles separately, and the entire complex together with the underwater carrier. It is expected that the new missile system will be in service in the U.S. until 2084.
Meanwhile, until the early 2030s at least, the Ohio-type submarines with Trident-2 missiles remain the basis of the naval part of the U.S. nuclear triad. The British naval nuclear forces are also armed with the same missiles. The U.S. adopted the complex in 1990, while the U.K. adopted it in 1995. Now the two fleets are armed with 14 American nuclear submarines and four British Vanguard-type submarines. In Great Britain, this is the only component of the nuclear forces - there are neither ground nor air components.
Characteristics of the Trident-2
For its time, the Trident-2 was probably one of the best intercontinental solid-fueled missiles. The three-stage missile can throw thermonuclear warheads of two types - light and medium - at a range of up to 11,300 kilometers.
It has a very high accuracy - the deviation can be 90 meters from the aiming point. This is a very good indicator at such a range - only missiles with guided hypersonic warheads have better characteristics, but no one has such missiles in the sea-based version.
It can be noted that in the 1980s, everyone looked back on the Trident's structural perfection and, in fact, the missile set a new level in solid-fueled sea missile construction.
The Russian analog of Trident-2
And this level was repeated and surpassed by the creators of Russia's Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile.
The Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering (MIT), using its work on land-based Topol and Topol-M (future Yars) intercontinental ballistic missiles, has created a new-generation naval missile unified with them to the maximum extent possible. It turned out to be compact, practical, using fuel and design components from other serial missiles and with a modern control system and combat equipment.
Launch of the nuclear-powered submarine cruiser Knyaz Pozharsky in Severodvinsk equipped with Bulava sea-based ballistic missiles
The Bulava missile system is based on the newly developed Borey nuclear-powered submarine missile carriers, which are being built in a large series of at least 14 units (including the 955 and 955M projects). Each such nuclear-powered ship carries 16 missiles, each with three to six warheads. The range is up to 9,300 kilometers according to official data. This is enough to destroy any targets on the territories of potential enemies.
The peculiarity of our Bulava is that it can be modernized in the footsteps of its land-based older brothers - that is, if some serious improvements are adopted for the ground-based Strategic Missile Forces, it is almost certain that MIT can make the same improvements to the Bulava.
The closest candidates for upgrades are guided hypersonic warheads and BIR-type warheads (individual deployment units). This is such a realization of warheads when each has its own engine and its own control system. They can be deployed along their trajectories almost immediately after the completion of the rocket engines. And they will be able to hit targets separated from each other very far away. All these "innovations" significantly increase the invulnerability of warheads from any missile defense systems.
A drill on the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine cruiser Tula, which launches the Sineva ballistic missile
In addition, the Russian Navy is still in service with liquid-propellant strategic missiles developed by the Makeyev State Missile Center from Miass - Sineva and Liner missiles on Project 667BDRM submarine missile carriers. These missiles are still the most advanced in terms of mass - the most efficient ratio of the missile mass to the mass of the payload to be launched. But in the coming years they will be replaced by unified Bulavas. This will greatly reduce operating costs, and only one type of strategic missiles will remain in the supply of our fleet.
What are the nuclear forces of China and France
China's nuclear forces include ballistic missiles deployed on nuclear-powered submarine-launched missile carriers. The core is made up of six Type 094 nuclear submarines, each carrying 12 JL-2 or JL-3 ballistic missiles.
China's missile program is extremely closed, and therefore there is little information about their systems. But it is known that both missiles are solid-fueled, and while the JL-2 has a range of less than 8,000 kilometers, the JL-3, which will enter service in the 2020s, is already comparable to modern U.S. and Russian missiles, with a range of at least 10,000 kilometers. Both carry multiple warheads. The replacement of the outdated JL-2 missiles with the more advanced JL-3 is just underway. And next, the Chinese navy will probably have a project for a new nuclear-powered missile carrier.
Type 094A "Jin" nuclear submarine "Changzheng 10"
Four Triumphan nuclear-powered missile submarines make up the naval nuclear component of France's nuclear deterrent force. The boats joined the fleet from 1997 to 2010, and each carries 16 M51 solid-fueled missiles.
The missiles are of French own design and have six to ten low-yield warheads (about 100 kt). In terms of their parameters, they are close to both Trident and Bulava. This missile system will probably not be replaced by anything in the next 20 years. But it is not quite clear what will happen next.
This is the picture of today's leading nuclear powers with nuclear submarine fleets. But young nuclear-armed countries are stepping on their heels - India is building and deploying its own nuclear submarines and may well be engaged in long-range missiles for them. North Korea has already created missiles that can be deployed on submarines and may well start work on a nuclear-powered missile carrier. Such work may already be underway. They would be the two closest candidates to join the club of the planet's naval nuclear powers.
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