It would be nice if the future liquid fuel ICBM will have such a capability. This in order to trash all American NMD spending.

No we can not compare the aircraft “realistically” – but then why would the Russian haters then all assume the F-22 is going to dominate the skies like some crap out of a Tom Clancy movie? Everyone buys it too, and it’s total BS just like assuming the PAK-FA is going to be the next laser-toting flying saucer!

You know, the Raptor is able to down a Galactica type star-ship with cannons because of its superb stealth and suprercruise. After this, it will return to the moon base for Raptors.:diablo::p In comparison, PAK-FA is a hopeless two-centuries behind XXI-century-tech-brick. 😀

But in case of Bulava the warhead is unique , in that what I think , it is self propelled and guided , unlike passive MIRV of RSM-54 , that also demands new warhead design , compact liquid propellant engine , finally control and guidance , all this in an all in one package.

Agree, remember, RSM55 claimed that the fourth “successful test” that presented problems just with the warheads carried a sort of “actively guided warhead, I think a sort of very light MARV.

The light weight of 38.5 T makes me also believe that it uses composite casing for all 3 stages giving it a high fuel mass fraction.

Agreed

All in All its a new system from scratch , they should do many more test to prove all this new technology and prove it works reliably and consistently before getting accepted , doesn’t matter even if it takes 2+ more years.

And the test program is showing that is a difficult development. In the end, sooner or later, I think “the thing” will work. The only “?” is the number of tests necessary to make it work well.

Austin

The three-stage RSM-54 was built in 1979. The first- stage engine exhibits the highest level of performance, particularly where combustion chamber pressure is concerned. Morover, its containerized launch sequence is modified because the RSM-54 has a diameter larger than that of its predecessors. The third stage and the nosecone go to form a single assembly having common reservoirs. The missile can accommodate two different nosecones, armed with four or ten warheads.

It seems that the RSM-54 uses the same “two and half” stages configuration.

The ones I wouted a few posts or so back, the ones where the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Vladimir Mikhailo said it would fly in 2007 and this one from the head of Sukhoi “We are nearing the end of research and development work, and Mikhail [Pogosyan, the head of Sukhoi aircraft maker] confirmed that the first plane will make its maiden flight in late 2008,” Sergei Ivanov said.

From “late 2008” to “august 2009” are just 8 months. Not a big deal, considerig that’s the first 100% post-soviet big program. Compare with the “always mobile” F-35 schedule. In the end, the US fan-boys are just placing like words and phrases their whishes. That’s all.

A wild speculation

RMS-55 noted some days ago that the 3rd stage of the Bulava “is special”. According RIAN the third one is liquid fuelled:

http://en.rian.ru/img/118575033_free.html

But according this new info-graphic, the stage no detaches itself from the bus but just detaches the engine.

http://en.rian.ru/img/119184274_free.html

My bet is that the third stage IS the bus, which works first as a conventional stage, then discard the engine and after that start to manoeuvre to inject the warheads on their respective paths. A quite complex system (this may explain some failures) aimed at saving as weight as possible.