Submarine trident. The failure of the Trident II D5 ballistic missile (5 photos). UPI graduate becomes the director of the OKB

Rockets make their way to the surface and fly up towards the stars. Among the thousands of twinkling dots, they need one. Polaris. Alpha Ursa Major. Farewell star of humanity, to which salvo points and warhead astro-correction systems are attached.

Ours start smoothly like a candle, launching the first stage engines right in the missile silo aboard the submarine. Thick-sided American "Tridents" crawl to the surface crookedly, staggering as if drunk. Their stability in the underwater section of the trajectory is not ensured by anything other than the starting impulse of the pressure accumulator ...

But first things first!

R-29RMU2 "Sineva" - further development the glorious R-29RM family.
Development began in 1999. Putting into service - 2007.

A three-stage liquid-propellant submarine ballistic missile with a launch weight of 40 tons. Max. throw weight - 2.8 tons with a launch range of 8300 km. Combat load - 8 small-sized MIRVs for individual guidance (for modification RMU2.1 "Liner" - 4 medium-power warheads with advanced anti-missile defense systems). The circular deviation is 500 meters.

Achievements and records. R-29RMU2 possesses the highest energy and mass perfection among all existing domestic and foreign SLBMs (the ratio of the combat load to the launch mass reduced to the flight range is 46 units). For comparison: the energy and mass perfection of Trident-1 is only 33, and Trident-2 is 37.5.

The high thrust of the R-29RMU2 engines makes it possible to fly along a flat trajectory, which reduces the flight time and, according to a number of experts, radically increases the chances of overcoming missile defense (albeit at the cost of reducing the launch range).

On October 11, 2008, during the Stability-2008 exercise in the Barents Sea, a record-breaking Sineva rocket was launched from the Tula nuclear submarine. The prototype of the warhead fell in the equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean, the launch range was 11,547 km.

UGM-133A Trident-II D5. "Trident-2" has been developed since 1977 in parallel with the lighter "Trident-1". Introduced into service in 1990.

The launch weight is 59 tons. Max. throw weight - 2.8 tons with a launch range of 7800 km. Max. flight range with a reduced number of warheads - 11,300 km. Combat load - 8 MIRVs of medium power (W88, 475 kT) or 14 MIRVs of low power (W76, 100 kT). The circular probable deviation is 90 ... 120 meters.

An inexperienced reader is probably asking the question: why are American missiles so poor? They come out of the water at an angle, fly worse, weigh more, energy and mass perfection to hell ...

The thing is that the designers of "Lockheed Martin" were initially in a more difficult situation in comparison with their Russian counterparts from the Design Bureau. Makeeva. For the sake of the traditions of the American fleet, they had to design an SLBM solid fuel.

By the value of the specific impulse, the solid propellant rocket engine is a priori inferior to the liquid propellant engine. The velocity of gas outflow from the nozzle of modern liquid-propellant rocket engines can reach 3500 and more m / s, while for solid propellants this parameter does not exceed 2500 m / s.

Achievements and records of "Trident-2":
1. The highest thrust of the first stage (91,170 kgf) among all solid-propellant SLBMs, and the second among ballistic missiles with solid propellants, after Minuteman-3.
2. The longest series of trouble-free launches (150 as of June 2014).
3. The longest service life: "Trident-2" will remain in service until 2042 (half a century in active service!). This testifies not only to the surprisingly large resource of the missile itself, but also to the correct choice of the concept, laid down at the height of the Cold War.

At the same time, the "Trident" is difficult to modernize. Over the past quarter century since the introduction into service, progress in the field of electronics and computing systems has gone so far that any local integration of modern systems into the Trident-2 design is impossible either at the software or even at the hardware level!

When the resource of the Mk.6 inertial navigation systems runs out (the last batch was purchased in 2001), it will be necessary to completely replace the entire electronic “stuffing” of the Tridents for the requirements of the next generation INS Next Generation Guidance (NGG).

Warhead W76 / Mk-4

However, even in his current state, the old warrior remains unrivaled. A 40-year-old vintage masterpiece with a whole set of technical secrets, many of which could not be repeated even today.

A recessed solid propellant rocket nozzle swinging in 2 planes in each of the three stages of the rocket.

"Mysterious needle" in the bow of the SLBM (a sliding rod, consisting of seven parts), the use of which allows you to reduce aerodynamic drag (increase in range - 550 km).

The original scheme with the placement of warheads ("carrots") around the third stage main engine (warheads Mk-4 and Mk-5).

100-kiloton W76 warhead with an unrivaled CEP to this day. In the original version, when using a dual correction system (ANN + astrocorrection), the circular probable deviation of the W-76 reaches 120 meters. When using triple correction (ANN + astrocorrection + GPS), the CEP of the warhead is reduced to 90 m.

In 2007, with the end of production of the Trident-2 SLBM, a multi-stage D5 LEP (Life Extention Program) modernization program was launched in order to extend the service life of existing missiles. In addition to re-equipping the "Tridents" of the new NGG navigation system, the Pentagon launched a research cycle with the aim of creating new, even more efficient rocket fuel compositions, creating radiation-resistant electronics, as well as a number of works aimed at developing new warheads.

Some intangible aspects:

Liquid propellant rocket engine includes turbopump units, complex mixing head and valves. Material - high-grade stainless steel. Each rocket with a liquid-propellant engine is a technical masterpiece, whose sophisticated design is directly proportional to its prohibitive cost.

In general, a solid-propellant SLBM is a fiberglass “barrel” (thermostable container) filled to the brim with compressed gunpowder. Even a special combustion chamber is absent in the design of such a rocket - the "barrel" itself is the combustion chamber.

With serial production, the savings are enormous. But only if you know how to make such missiles correctly! The production of solid propellants requires the highest technical culture and quality control. The slightest fluctuations in humidity and temperature will critically affect the burning stability of fuel stoves.

The developed chemical industry in the United States suggested an obvious solution. As a result, all overseas SLBMs - from "Polaris" to "Trident" flew on solid fuel. Our situation was somewhat more complicated. The first attempt "came out lumpy": the solid-propellant SLBM R-31 (1980) was unable to confirm even half of the capabilities of the liquid-propellant missiles of the Design Bureau im. Makeeva. The second rocket R-39 turned out no better - with a warhead mass equivalent to the Trident-2 SLBM, the launch mass of the Soviet rocket reached an incredible 90 tons. I had to create a huge boat for the super-rocket (project 941 "Akula").

At the same time, the RT-2PM Topol land-based missile system (1988) turned out to be even very successful. Obviously, the main problems with the stability of fuel combustion were successfully overcome by that time.

In the design of the new "hybrid" "Bulava" engines are used, both on solid (first and second stages) and liquid fuel (last, third stage). However, the bulk of unsuccessful launches was associated not so much with the instability of fuel combustion, but with the sensors and the mechanical part of the rocket (the stage separation mechanism, the swinging nozzle, etc.).

The advantage of SLBMs with solid propellants, in addition to the lower cost of serial missiles, is the safety of their operation. The fears associated with the storage and preparation for launch of SLBMs with liquid fuel rocket engines are not in vain: a whole cycle of accidents occurred in the domestic submarine fleet associated with the leakage of toxic components of liquid fuel and even explosions that led to the loss of the ship (K-219).

In addition, the following facts speak in favor of the solid propellant rocket:

Shorter length (due to the absence of a separated combustion chamber). As a result, American submarines lack the characteristic "hump" over the missile compartment;

Less prelaunch time. In contrast to SLBMs with liquid propellant rocket engines, where first there follows a long and dangerous procedure for pumping fuel components (FC) and filling them with pipelines and the combustion chamber. Plus, the very process of “liquid start”, which requires filling the mine with seawater, which is an undesirable factor that disrupts the submarine's stealth;

Until the start of the pressure accumulator, it remains possible to cancel the launch (due to a change in the situation and / or detection of any malfunctions in the SLBM systems). Our "Sineva" works according to a different principle: start - shoot. And nothing else. Otherwise, a dangerous process of draining the TC will be required, after which the incapacitated missile can only be carefully unloaded and sent to the manufacturer for refurbishment.

As for the launch technology itself, the American version has its drawback.

Will the pressure accumulator be able to provide the necessary conditions for "pushing" the 59-ton blank to the surface? Or will you have to go at a shallow depth at the time of launch, with a deckhouse sticking out above the water?

The calculated pressure value for the start of "Trident-2" is 6 atm., The initial speed of movement in the vapor-gas cloud is 50 m / s. According to calculations, the launch impulse is sufficient to “lift” the rocket from a depth of at least 30 meters. As for the “unaesthetic” exit to the surface, at an angle to the normal, in technical terms it does not matter: the activated third-stage engine stabilizes the rocket flight in the first seconds.

At the same time, the "dry" start of the "Trident", in which the main engine is started 30 meters above the water, provides some safety for the submarine itself, in the event of an accident (explosion) of an SLBM in the first second of flight.

Unlike domestic high-energy SLBMs, whose creators are seriously discussing the possibility of flying along a flat trajectory, foreign experts do not even try to work in this direction. Motivation: the active segment of the SLBM trajectory lies in an area inaccessible to enemy missile defense systems (for example, the equatorial sector of the Pacific Ocean or the ice shell of the Arctic). As for the final section, it does not really matter for missile defense systems whether the angle of entry into the atmosphere was 50 or 20 degrees. Moreover, the missile defense systems themselves, capable of repelling a massive missile attack, so far exist only in the fantasies of generals. Flying in dense layers of the atmosphere, in addition to reducing the range, creates a bright contrail, which in itself is a strong unmasking factor.

Epilogue

A galaxy of domestic submarine-based missiles against a single "Trident-2" ... I must say, the "American" is doing well. Despite its considerable age and solid fuel engines, its throw weight is exactly equal to the throw weight of the liquid fuel “Sineva”. No less impressive launch range: according to this indicator, Trident-2 is not inferior to the Russian liquid-propellant missiles, brought to perfection, and surpasses any French or Chinese analogue by a head. Finally, a small KVO, which makes Trident-2 a real contender for the first place in the ranking of strategic maritime nuclear forces.

20 years is a considerable age, but the Yankees do not even discuss the possibility of replacing the "Trident" until the early 2030s. Obviously, a powerful and reliable missile fully satisfies their ambitions.

All disputes about the superiority of one or another type of nuclear weapons are of no particular importance. Nuclear is like multiplying by zero. Regardless of other factors, the result is zero.

Lockheed Martin engineers have created a cool solid-propellant SLBM that was twenty years ahead of its time. The merits of domestic specialists in the field of creating liquid-propellant missiles are also beyond doubt: over the past half century, Russian SLBMs with liquid-propellant rocket engines have been brought to true perfection.

At the end of last week, the Pentagon closed a significant area of ​​the world's oceans for air flights and navigation: to the west of the Florida Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico, and also to the west of Angola in the South Atlantic. This was due to the scheduled launch of the Trident-2 ICBM on Sunday night from one of the Ohio-class strategic nuclear submarines.

This launch is not listed as planned, intended either to confirm the performance characteristics of missiles in long-term operation, or to carry out measures for the next modernization of the rocket, which was put into service in 1990. Since the previous planned firing by a pair of Trident-2s with an interval of three hours was carried out in March by the Ohio boat, which was located near the California coast of the United States.

So we can assume that we are now witnessing a demonstrative "muscle flexing". And it was associated with the salvo launch of the Russian strategic submarine Dmitry Donskoy, Project 995 Borey, of four Bulava ICBMs. The volley was fired with an interval of 1-2 seconds between the release of two adjacent missiles.

In the West, the firing of the Russian Navy is also considered demonstrative, for some reason tying them to the then approaching opening of the FIFA World Cup. However, these firing became, first of all, a test of the submarine's systems to conduct salvo firing, which has never been done in Russia since the end of the 80s.

The complexity of such massive launches is that the boat loses mass after the launch of each missile, which leads to a change in the depth of its location. And this, in turn, in the case of unreliable operation of the missile control automation, can affect the accuracy. May 22, all rockets fired from the water area Of the White Sea, reached the Kura training ground in Kamchatka, all the warheads hit their targets.

Over the past three years, the Pentagon generals, constantly and purposefully knocking out funding in the US Congress, speak of the need "in the face of Russia's aggressive aspirations" to improve their nuclear potential. That is, create something new strategic weapon in all three of its types - underwater, air and ground.

And these persistent speeches had an effect. Last year, the Congressional Budget Office released the Projected US Nuclear Forces Expenditure 2017-2026 report. It includes a total of $ 400 billion. Of course, not all of this money will be spent on new developments and the construction of advanced weapons. Huge funds are spent on the maintenance of existing arsenals and strategic equipment. At the same time, in the same document, published in 2015, it was about 350 billion. The progress is significant.

This money is already beginning to be actively promoted. And above all in the marine component of the nuclear triad. At the moment, the fourth-generation strategic submarine Columbia is being designed, which is to replace the Ohio submarine, since it will soon turn 40 years old. The development cost is estimated at $ 12 billion. The construction of each of their 14 strategic submarines is estimated at about $ 5 billion. However, if the first boats begin to be laid in the next decade, that is, in the period indicated in the report of the Congress, then they will begin to enter the US Navy as early as the 30s. The entire Columbia project will cost $ 100 billion.

At the same time, there is no talk of replacing the Trident-2 missile with a promising ICBM. It suits the US Navy, since it leads the world in a number of parameters. It has the least circular probable deviation from the target - about 100 meters. Our Bulava is 250 meters away. So far, Trident-2 ranks second in range after the Russian Sineva - 11,300 km versus 11,500 km. In terms of throw weight, it is on par with "Sineva" - 2800 kg. However, after the replacement of the third generation strategic submarines - Dolphin and Kalmar - by the fourth generation Borei submarines, the Sineva will be removed from service. There will be only "Bulava", which has less range and throw weight. However, first of all, due to the modernization of the Bulava, it is planned in the foreseeable future to bring up the power characteristics to the American missile.

And, secondly, the Bulava control system is more perfect, which is extremely important in a situation of constant increase in the capabilities of systems missile defense... ICBMs, "stupidly" flying along a ballistic trajectory, after a while will not be the most difficult prey for missile defense systems. As for the Bulava, it uses modern methods of overcoming missile defense. A short active section of the trajectory when the missile is easily detected by the running engine. A flat trajectory that leaves antimissiles too little time to react. And finally, the maneuvering of warheads. As well as electronic warfare equipment. The Trident-2 ICBM has none of this.

But the numerical superiority in missiles located on one strategic submarine will be eliminated with the arrival of the Columbia submarines in the US Navy. Now the Ohio submarine has the 24th ICBM. Each Russian boat has 16 ICBMs. The Columbia will also have 16. However, the reduction in the Pentagon's striking power is expected to compensate for the greater secrecy of the Columbia. It is supposed to partially use the technology of the multipurpose (non-strategic) boat "Virginia", which, like our "Borey", belongs to the fourth generation of submarines.

The maritime component of the triad is the strongest in the United States. Submarines carry 67% of the total number of nuclear warheads on alert. The rest falls on US strategic aviation and silo-based ground missiles.

The second place is taken by the air component of the nuclear triad. And here it is supposed to do a lot of work so that, as the Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States announced recently at a hearing in Congress General Paul Selva, strategic aviation was guaranteed to overcome the Russian air defense system.

The work is carried out in two directions. A promising B-21 bomber and a nuclear-powered cruise missile are being created. The United States has bombers, but they are mostly very ancient - the B-52. Modern - V-2 - very few, only 19 machines. There are no strategic missiles, instead of them bombs B61 (340 kt) and B63 (1.1 Mt).

Northrop Grumman won the tender for the $ 80 billion B-21 bomber. Almost nothing is known about what the B-21 will look like and what characteristics it will have, since the work is at the very initial stage. There is only a scaled-down layout for the press and potential customers. Outwardly, this is a "flying wing" that bears some resemblance to the B-2. It is assumed that the bomber will have two control modes - piloted and unmanned.

According to the plan, the first planes should appear already in 2025. However, these are overly optimistic forecasts. It took 20 years to create the B-2 Spirit. 10 years from the start of development to the first flight of the prototype, and the same amount before the start of serial production. However, the Pentagon plans to have 100 new bombers by 2037.

Lockheed Martin is developing a nuclear cruise missile long-range LRSO (Long Range Stand-Off) to equip not only promising, but also operated strategic bombers.

The ground-based nuclear forces represent the Minuteman-3 silo-based ICBMs, which began to be put on alert in 1970. That is, almost half a century ago. This is the weakest link in the US nuclear triad. If the missiles have a good range of 13,000 km, then there are practically no mechanisms for countering missile defense systems. They periodically change their fuel, replace aging warheads, and update the control system. But this rocket is clearly outdated, as stated several times Donald Trump informed by the referees.

The Pentagon decided to replace them with promising ones. Northrop Grumman and Boeing won the $ 62 billion tender. For a billion, they must by 2020 provide a report on what technologies need to be used to create a promising ICBM. That is, it is the cost of research and development. Big money will come at the R&D stage and the subsequent serial production of four hundred missiles. The cost of the procurement together with the development cost is $ 62 billion. Of these, 13 billion will be paid for the creation of command and control systems, as well as launch centers.

UGM-133A Trident II- American three-stage ballistic missile designed to be launched from nuclear submarines. Developed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, California. The missile has a maximum range of 11,300 km and has a multiple warhead with individual guidance units equipped with thermonuclear charges with a capacity of 475 and 100 kilotons.

Due to its high accuracy, the SLBM is capable of effectively hitting small-sized highly protected targets - deep bunkers and silo launchers of intercontinental ballistic missiles. As of 2010, Trident II is the only SLBM remaining in service with the US Navy SSBN and the British Navy. The warheads deployed on the Trident II account for 52% of the US strategic nuclear forces and 100% of the British strategic nuclear forces.
Together with the Trident I missile, it is part of the missile system "Trident"... In 1990, it was adopted by the US Navy. The carriers of the Trident missile system are 14 SSBNs of the type "Ohio"... In 1995 it was adopted by the Royal Navy of Great Britain. Missiles "Trident II" are armed with 4 SSBNs of the type "Vanguard" .

Development history

Another transformation of the views of the American political leadership on the prospects nuclear war began around the second half of the 1970s. Most scientists were of the opinion that even a retaliatory Soviet nuclear strike would be disastrous for the United States. Therefore, the theory of limited nuclear war was adopted for the European theater of war. For its implementation, new nuclear weapons were needed.

On November 1, 1966, the US Department of Defense began research work on strategic weapons STRAT-X. The original goal of the program was to evaluate the design of a new strategic missile proposed by the US Air Force - the future MX... However, under the leadership of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, evaluation rules were formulated according to which proposals from other branches of the forces should be evaluated simultaneously. When considering the options, the cost of the weapons complex being created was calculated, taking into account the creation of the entire basing infrastructure. An estimate was made of the number of surviving warheads after nuclear strike enemy. The resulting cost of the "surviving" warhead was the main criterion for evaluation. From the US Air Force, in addition to ICBMs deployed in an enhanced security mine, the option of using a new bomber was submitted for consideration B-1 .

Design

The design of the marching steps

The Trident-2 rocket is a three-stage rocket with tandem-type steps. Missile length 13,530 mm (532.7 in), maximum launch weight 59,078 kg (130,244 lb). All three main stages are equipped with solid propellants. The first and second stages are 2,108 mm (83 inches) in diameter and are interconnected by a transition compartment. The nose has a diameter of 2057 mm (81 inches). It includes a third stage engine that occupies the central part of the head compartment and a breeding stage with warheads located around it. From external influences, the nose is closed with a fairing and a nose cap with a sliding telescopic aerodynamic needle.

Head design

The missile warhead was developed by General Electric. In addition to the previously mentioned fairing and solid propellant rocket engine of the third stage, it includes an instrument compartment, a combat compartment and a propulsion system. In the instrument compartment, control systems, warhead disengagement, power supplies and other equipment are installed. The control system controls the operation of all three stages of the rocket and the stage of breeding.

In comparison with the operation scheme of the Trident-1 rocket breeding stage, a number of improvements have been introduced on the Trident-2. Unlike the C4 flight, the warheads look "forward" in the acceleration phase. After the separation of the third stage solid propellant engine, the dilution stage is oriented to the position required for astrocorrection. After that, on the basis of the specified coordinates, the on-board computer calculates the trajectory, the stage is oriented in blocks forward and accelerates to the required speed. The stage turns around and there is a separation of one warhead, usually downward relative to the trajectory at an angle of 90 degrees. In the event that the detachable unit is in the field of action of one of the nozzles, it is overlapped. The three remaining working nozzles begin the reversal of the combat stage. This reduces the impact on the orientation of the warhead of the propulsion system, which increases accuracy. After orientation during the flight, the cycle begins for the next combat unit - acceleration, turn and separation. This procedure is repeated for all warheads. Depending on the distance of the launch area from the target and the missile trajectory, the warheads reach the targets 15-40 minutes after the missile launch.

The combat compartment can house up to 8 warheads W88 capacity of 475 kt or up to 14 W76 with a capacity of 100 kt. At maximum load, the rocket is capable of throwing 8 W88 blocks at a range of 7838 km.

Missile operation and current status

The US Navy's missile carriers are Ohio-class submarines, each armed with 24 missiles. As of 2009, the US Navy has 14 boats of this type. The missiles are installed in SSBN silos when they go on alert. After returning from combat duty, the missiles are unloaded from the boat and transferred to a special storage facility. Only the Bangor and Kings Bay naval bases are equipped with missile storage facilities. While the missiles are in storage, work is carried out on them. maintenance.
Missile launches are carried out during test tests. Test tests are carried out mainly in two cases. After significant upgrades and to confirm the combat effectiveness, missile launches are carried out for testing and research purposes (Research and Development Test). Also, within the framework of acceptance tests for acceptance into service and after overhaul, each SSBN performs a test and test launch of missiles (Eng. Demonstration and Shakedown Operation, DASO).
According to plans in 2010-2020, two boats will be on overhaul with recharging the reactor. As of 2009, the KOH of Ohio-class boats is 0.6, therefore, on average, 8 boats will be on alert duty and 192 missiles will be in constant readiness for launch.

START II provided for the unloading of Trident 2 from 8 to 5 warheads and limiting the number of SSBNs to 14 units. But in 1997, the implementation of this treaty was blocked by Congress through a special law.

On April 8, 2010, the presidents of Russia and the United States signed a new treaty on the limitation of strategic offensive arms - START III... According to the provisions of the treaty, the total number of deployed nuclear warheads is limited to 1550 units for each of the parties. The total number of deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine ballistic missiles and strategic missile-carrying bombers for Russia and the United States should not exceed 700 units, and another 100 carriers may be in reserve, in an undeployed state. The Trident-2 missiles also fall under this treaty. As of July 1, 2009, the United States had 851 carriers and some of them should be cut. So far, the US plans have not been announced, so it is not known for certain whether this reduction will affect Trident-2. The issue of reducing the number of Ohio-class submarines from 14 to 12 while maintaining the total number of deployed warheads is being discussed.

Tactical and technical characteristics

• Number of steps: 3
• Length, m: 13.42
• Diameter, m: 2.11
• Maximum takeoff weight, kg: 59 078
• Maximum throw weight, kg: 2800
• Maximum range, km: 11 300
• Guidance system type: inertial + astro correction + GPS

• Warhead: thermonuclear
• Warhead type: split warhead with individual guidance units
• The number of warheads: up to 8 W88 (475 kt) or up to 14 W76 (100 kt)
• Based: SSBN types "Ohio" and "Vanguard"

General: ... a nuclear device with a capacity of 5 to 50 Megatons has been successfully tested.
Reporter: Why such a large range? You couldn't count exactly?
Well, - says the general - we counted on 5, but it will explode

According to the website of Lokheed Martin Space Systems, on April 14 and 16, 2012, the US Navy successfully conducted a series of paired launches of Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles. These were the 139th, 140th, 141st and 142nd successively successful launches of the Trident-II D5 SLBM. All missile launches were carried out from the submerged SSBN738 "Maryland" SSBN in Atlantic Ocean... Once again, the world record for reliability was set among long-range ballistic missiles and spacecraft launch vehicles.
Melanie A. Sloane, Vice President of Marine Ballistic Missile Programs at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, said in an official statement: “... Trident missiles continue to demonstrate high operational reliability. such an effective combat system hinders the aggressive plans of opponents. The stealth and mobility of the Trident submarine system gives it unique capabilities as the most tenacious component of the strategic triad, which ensures the security of our country from threats from any potential adversary. "

But while the "Trident" (and this is how the word Trident is translated) is setting records, many questions have accumulated for its creators related to the real combat value of the American missile.

Because we are not going to divulge anyone's state secrets, all our further conversation will be based on data taken from open sources. This complicates the situation - and ours. and the US military is juggling the facts so that nasty details never surface. But we will certainly be able to restore some of the "blank spots" in this tangled story, using the "deductive method" of Sherlock Holmes and the most common logic.

So, what do we reliably know about Trident:
UGM-133A Trident II (D5) three-stage solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile. It was adopted by the US Navy in 1990 as a replacement for the first generation Trident missile. At present, Trident-2 is armed with 14 nuclear-powered missile-carrying submarines of the US Navy "Ohio" and 4 British SSBN "Vanguard".
Basic performance characteristics:
Length - 13.42 m
Diameter - 2.11 m
Maximum launch weight - 59 tons
Maximum flight range - up to 11,300 km
Throw weight - 2800 kilograms (14 W76 warheads or 8 more powerful W88).
Agree, it all sounds very solid.

The most surprising thing is that each of these parameters causes heated debate. The assessments range from enthusiastic to sharply negative. Well, let's talk in essence:

Liquid or solid rocket engine?

LRE or TTRD? Two different design schools, two different approaches to solving the biggest problem rocketry... Which engine is better?
Soviet rocket scientists traditionally preferred liquid fuel and achieved great success in this area. And for good reason: liquid-propellant rocket engines have a fundamental advantage: liquid-propellant rockets always outperform rockets with turbojet engines in terms of energy and mass perfection - the value of the throw weight referred to the launch weight of the rocket.
"Trident-2", as well as the new modification R-29RMU2 "Sineva", have the same throw-weight - 2800 kg, while the starting weight of "Sineva" is less by a third: 40 tons versus 58 for "Trident-2". That's it!
And then complications begin: a liquid engine is overly complex, there are many moving parts (pumps, valves, turbines) in its design, and, as you know, mechanics is a critical element of any system. But there is also a positive moment here: by controlling the fuel supply, you can easily solve the problems of control and maneuvering.
A solid-propellant rocket is structurally simpler, respectively, easier and safer to operate (in fact, its engine burns like a large smoke bomb). Obviously, talking about security is not a simple philosophy, it was the R-27 liquid-propellant missile that ditched the K-219 nuclear submarine in October 1986.

TTRD makes high demands on production technology: the required thrust parameters are achieved by varying the chemical composition of the fuel and the geometry of the combustion chamber. Any deviations in the chemical composition of the components are excluded - even the presence of air bubbles in the fuel will cause an uncontrolled change in thrust. Nevertheless, this condition did not prevent the United States from creating one of the best underwater missile systems in the world.

Trident 2 is hunting seagulls.
The controlled nozzle seems to be stuck

There are also purely design drawbacks of liquid-propellant rockets: for example, Trident uses a “dry start” - the rocket is ejected from the mine by a steam-gas mixture, then the first stage engines are turned on at a height of 10-30 meters above the water. On the contrary, our rockets chose a “wet start” - the missile silo is pre-filled with seawater before launching. Not only does this unmask the boat, the characteristic pump noise clearly indicates what it is going to do.

The Americans, without any doubt, chose solid-propellant missiles to arm their submarine missile carriers. Still, the simplicity of the solution is the key to success. The development of solid-propellant missiles has deep traditions in the United States - the first SLBM "Polaris A-1", created in 1958, flew on solid fuel.

The USSR followed the development of foreign rocketry with close attention and after a while also realized the need for missiles equipped with a turbojet engine. In 1984, the R-39 solid-propellant rocket was put into service - an absolutely fierce product of the Soviet military-industrial complex. At that time, it was not possible to find effective components of solid fuel - the launch weight of the R-39 reached an incredible 90 tons, while the throw weight was less than that of the Trident-2. A special carrier was created for the overgrown rocket - a heavy nuclear submarine cruiser strategic purpose Project 941 "Shark" (according to NATO classification - "Typhoon"). Engineers of TsKBMT "Rubin" designed a unique submarine with two robust hulls and a 40% buoyancy margin. In the submerged position "Typhoon" dragged 15 thousand tons of ballast water, for which he received the destructive nickname "water carrier" in the fleet. But, despite all the reproaches, the insane construction of the Typhoon, by its very appearance, terrified the entire Western world. Q.E.D.

And then came SHE - a rocket that threw the general designer from the chair, but never reached the "potential enemy". SLBM "Bulava". In my opinion, Yuri Solomonov succeeded in the impossible - in conditions of severe financial constraints, lack of bench tests and experience in the development of ballistic missiles for submarines, the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering managed to create a rocket that FLIES. Technically, the Bulava SLBM is an original hybrid, the first stage in the second stage is fueled by solid fuel, the third stage is liquid propellant.

In terms of energy and mass perfection, the Bulava is somewhat inferior to the Trident of the first generation: the starting mass of the Bulava is 36.8 tons, the throw weight is 1150 kilograms. The "Trident-1" has a launch weight of 32 tons, a throw-weight of 1360 kg. But there is a nuance here: the capabilities of missiles depend not only on the throwing weight, but also on the launch range and accuracy (in other words, on the CEP - the circular probable deviation). In the era of missile defense development, it became necessary to take into account such an important indicator as the duration of the active section of the trajectory. By all these indicators, the Bulava is a fairly promising missile.

Range of flight

A very controversial point that serves as a rich topic for discussion. The creators of Trident-2 proudly declare that their SLBMs fly at a range of 11,300 kilometers. Usually below, in small letters, there is a clarification: with a reduced number of warheads. Aha! And how much does Trident-2 give out at a full load of 2.8 tons? Lokheed Martin experts are reluctant to answer: 7800 kilometers. In principle, both figures are quite realistic and there is reason to trust them.

One of the secrets of the Trident 2 design. Telescopic needle reducing aerodynamic drag

As for the Bulava, the figure is often 9,300 kilometers. This sly value is obtained with a payload of 2 warhead mockups. What is the maximum flight range of the Bulava at a full load of 1.15 tons? The answer is about 8000 kilometers. Fine.
A record flight range among SLBMs was set by the Russian R-29RMU2 Sineva. 11547 kilometers. Empty, of course.

Another interesting point - the light SLBM "Bulava", logically, should accelerate faster and have a shorter active section of the trajectory. The same is confirmed by the general designer Yuri Solomonov: “the rocket engines operate in an active mode for about 3 minutes.” Comparison of this statement with the official data on the Trident gives an unexpected result: the operating time of all three stages of the Trident-2 is ... 3 minutes. Perhaps the whole secret of the Bulava lies in the steepness of the trajectory, its flatness, but there are no reliable data on this issue.

Timeline of launches

Warheads Arrival, Kwajalein Atoll
It's late to crawl to the cemetery

Trident-2 is the record holder for reliability. 159 successful launches, 4 failures, one more launch was declared partially unsuccessful. On December 6, 1989, a continuous series of 142 successful launches began, and so far not a single accident. The result is, of course, phenomenal.

There is one tricky point here related to the methodology for testing SLBMs in the US Navy. You will not come across the phrase “the missile warheads have successfully arrived in the area of ​​the Kwajalein test site” in the messages about the Trident-2 launches. The Trident 2 warheads did not arrive anywhere. They self-destructed in near-earth space. That is exactly how - by detonating a ballistic missile after a certain period of time, test launches of American SLBMs end.

No doubt, sometimes American sailors carry out tests on a full cycle - with the development of the separation of individual guidance warheads in orbit and their subsequent landing (splashdown) in a given area of ​​the ocean. But in the 2000s, preference is given to the forced interruption of missile flight. according to the official explanation - "Trident-2" has already proven its efficiency dozens of times during tests; now training launches pursue another goal - crew training. Another official explanation for the premature self-destruction of SLBMs is that the ships of the measuring complex of the "probable enemy" could not determine the flight parameters of the warheads in the final segment of the trajectory.
In principle, this is a completely standard situation - it is enough to recall the operation "Begemot", when on August 6, 1991, the Soviet submarine missile carrier K-407 "Novomoskovsk" fired with full ammunition. Of the 16 launched R-29 SLBMs, only 2 reached the test site in Kamchatka, the remaining 14 were blown up in the stratosphere a few seconds after the launch. The Americans themselves produced a maximum of 4 Trident-2s at a time.

Circular deviation probability.

There is generally darkness. The data are so contradictory that there is no way to draw any conclusions. In theory, everything looks like this:

KVO "Trident-2" - 90 ... 120 meters
90 meters - for the W88 warhead with GPS correction
120 meters - using astro correction

For comparison, the official data on domestic SLBMs:
KVO R-29RMU2 "Sineva" - 250 ... 550 meters
KVO "Bulava" - 350 meters.
The following phrase is usually heard in the news: "warheads have arrived at the Kura training ground." The fact that the warheads hit targets is out of the question. Maybe the extreme secrecy regime does not allow you to proudly announce that the KVO of the Bulava warheads is measured in a few centimeters?
The same is observed with the "Trident". What 90 meters are we talking about if recent years 10 warheads have not been tested?
One more point - talks about equipping the Bulava with maneuvering warheads raise some doubts. With a maximum throw weight of 1150 kg, the Bulava is unlikely to lift more than one block.

KVO is by no means a harmless parameter, given the nature of the targets on the territory of the "potential enemy". To destroy protected targets on the territory of a "potential enemy", an overpressure of about 100 atmospheres is required, and for highly protected targets such as the R-36M2 mine - 200 atmospheres. Many years ago, experimentally, it was found that with a charge power of 100 kilotons, to destroy an underground bunker or mine-based ICBMs, it is required to detonate no further than 100 meters from the target.

Super weapon for super hero

For Trident-2, the most advanced MIRV was created - the W88 thermonuclear warhead. Power - 475 kilotons.
The design of the W88 was a closely guarded US secret until a package with documents arrived from China. In 1995, a Chinese defector archivist contacted the CIA station, whose testimony clearly indicated that the PRC secret services had taken possession of the secrets of W88. The Chinese knew exactly the size of the "trigger" - 115 millimeters, the size of a grapefruit. It was known that the primary nuclear charge was "aspherical with two points." The Chinese document accurately specified the radius of the circular secondary charge as 172 mm, and that, unlike other nuclear warheads, the W-88's primary charge was housed in a tapered warhead casing, before the secondary one, is another secret of the warhead's design.

In principle, we did not learn anything special - and so it is clear that the W88 has a complex design and is saturated to the limit with electronics. But the Chinese managed to learn something more interesting - when creating the W88, American engineers saved a lot on the thermal protection of the warhead, moreover, the initiating charges are made from ordinary explosives, and not from heat-resistant explosives, as is customary throughout the world. The data leaked to the press (well, it is impossible to keep secrets in America, what can you do) - there was a scandal, there was a Congress meeting, at which the developers justified themselves by the fact that the placement of warheads around the third stage of Trident-2 makes any thermal protection meaningless - in case the crash of the launch vehicle will happen the guaranteed Apocalypse. The measures taken are quite enough to prevent a strong heating of the warheads during flight in dense layers of the atmosphere. More is not required. But all the same, by decision of Congress, all 384 W88 warheads were modernized, designed to increase their thermal resistance.

Warhead section W-76

As we can see, out of 1,728 warheads deployed on American missile carriers, only 384 are relatively new W88s. The remaining 1,344 are W76 warheads with a capacity of 100 kilotons, produced between 1975 and 1985. Of course, for their technical condition they are strictly monitored and the warheads have gone through more than one stage of modernization, but the average age of 30 says a lot ...

60 years on alert

The US Navy has 14 Ohio-class submarine missile carriers. The underwater displacement is 18,000 tons. Armament - 24 launchers. The Mark-98 firing control system allows you to transfer all missiles to combat readiness within 15 minutes. The interval of Trident-2 launches is 15 ... 20 seconds.

Boats built in conditions Cold war, are still in the combat composition of the fleet, spending 60% of the time on combat patrols. It is expected that the development of a new carrier and a new submarine-launched ballistic missile to replace the Trident will begin no earlier than 2020. The Ohio-Trident-2 complex is planned to be finally removed from service no earlier than 2040.

Her Majesty's Royal Navy is armed with 4 Vanguard-class submarines, each armed with 16 Trident-2 SLBMs. British "Tridents" have some differences from the "Americans". The British missile warheads are designed for 8 warheads with a capacity of 150 kilotons (based on the W76 warhead). Unlike the American "Ohio", "Vanguards" have a 2 times lower coefficient of operational tension: at any given time there is only one submarine on combat patrol.

Perspectives

As for the production of "Trident-2", then, despite the version about the termination of the release of the rocket 20 years ago, in the period from 1989 to 2007, Lokheed Martin collected 425 "Tridents" for the US Navy at its factories. Another 58 missiles were delivered to Great Britain. Currently, within the framework of the LEP (Life Extention Program), talks are underway about the purchase of another 115 Trident-2. The new rockets will receive more efficient engines and a new inertial control system with a star sensor. In the future, the engineers hope to create a new warhead with correction in the atmospheric sector according to GPS data, which will allow realizing incredible accuracy: CEP less than 9 meters.

According to the Sunday Times, the launch of the Trident II D5 intercontinental ballistic missile failed by the UK. But this is not important. The exercise took place in June last year, and the failure was hidden even from the British Parliament. Who and why needed to classify this information

In July last year, British Prime Minister Theresa May visited Bratislava. A rather ordinary visit to the capital of Slovakia was in the center of attention of all the world's media.
A journalist from a Slovak TV channel asked Theresa May at a press conference: "Is the British prime minister ready to use nuclear weapons against Russia?"
May's answer was unequivocal.
“Indeed, last week there was a very important vote in parliament to continue our nuclear program,” May said. - During the debate, the question was raised whether I would be ready to use nuclear weapons as a frightening force. And my answer was: "Yes!"
It was the inspirational speech of the new British prime minister that convinced British parliamentarians to increase spending on upgrading the Trident nuclear program.
“Some people suggest that we get rid of the nuclear deterrent forces. It was an important part of our national security and protection for half a century, and it would be wrong for us to leave this direction, - said May before the parliamentary hearing, not forgetting to note the threats from Russia and North Korea.
Speaking to parliamentarians, May was already aware of the failure of the Trident II D5 ICBM launch. The launch was carried out from a British submarine near the US state of Florida in June. The rocket deviated from its intended course and flew towards the coast of the United States.

Nuclear shield is outdated

As a result, the deputies voted for the modernization of the country's nuclear shield. It will cost taxpayers 31 billion pounds (about $ 41 billion) to update the UK's current naval nuclear shield, consisting of Vanguard-class submarines, and on top of this amount 10 billion pounds (about $ 13.2 billion) is a contingency reserve.
Today, the strategic nuclear forces of Great Britain consist of one submarine squadron, which includes four Vanguard-class strategic missile submarines (SSBNs) equipped with Trident-2 ballistic missiles (16 MIRVs with individual targeting units). The maximum firing range of the missile is up to 11,500 km.
The lead boat Vanguard was commissioned in 1994, the second, Victorias, in 1995, the third, Vigilent, in 1998, and the fourth, Venjens, in 2001. Their service life is 30 years.
Three of the four submarines are in full combat readiness in peacetime. One of them carries out combat patrols in the northeast Atlantic, and the other two are on alert at the Faslane base. The fourth boat is undergoing major repairs or modernization.
Trident-2 ballistic missiles are loaded onto boats at the US Arsenal in King's Bay, Georgia. Moreover, the Americans carry out full supervision over the operation of these missiles, and also are engaged in their maintenance.
The British acquired from the Americans in total 58 Trident-2 missiles, but 48 ammunition is allocated for operational deployment. No more than three warheads are installed on each missile, and missiles designed to deliver a sub-strategic strike are equipped with one warhead.
The British naval strategic nuclear forces are armed with about 500 nuclear warheads. This number includes active (225 units) and inactive (up to 275 units) ammunition.
The direct control of the actions of strategic submarines is carried out by the commander of the Navy of the British Navy.

Where will the money go?

In its current form, the English shield will last until 2020, but the extension of the service life of the submarines in the future was recognized as inappropriate. The new program provides for the replacement of four Vanguard missile submarines with new ones - of the Successor class.
In May 2012, the UK media reported that the UK Department of Defense had signed contracts with BAE Systems, Babcock and Rolls-Royce worth £ 347 million to design a new generation of SSBNs. It is planned to build four Successor-class boats with the commissioning of the lead SSBN in 2028.
Each new British SSBN will carry 16 Trident-2 D-5 Life Extension missiles. The SSBN project is based on the development of the so-called Derived Submarine - a completely new project of a nuclear submarine. The submarine will be equipped with a new generation water-cooled reactor. Distinctive features The architecture of the new SSBN will use X-shaped rudders, as well as the fencing of retractable devices of a new streamlined shape.

Uncle Sam Hostage Crown

The most important thing to look out for in Britain's new nuclear program are the missiles that will be fitted to the revamping corona submarine fleet. The British who abandoned their own development nuclear weapons in favor of American missiles, are forced to develop new nuclear submarine cruisers, taking into account the fact that they will have to use old American missiles.
It's not that the Trident-2 D-5 Life Extension is a bad rocket. Trident-2 is generally one of the best missiles created for submarines and is second only to our most modern nuclear missiles, which we talked about in detail in the material “Superweapon of the nuclear era. How Russia and the United States Fight Underwater ”. However, supposedly the new missiles that the new British submarines will receive are in fact the same old Tridents, which will be forced to extend their lifespan.
Moreover, the Americans will extend the life of the missiles, and the British taxpayer will have to pay for these "new" missiles. Russia, for example, does not have such a problem and is able to independently develop both new types of SSBNs and modern rocket weapon to them. Since the British nuclear program weapons are tightly tied to American industry, they do not have the ability to maneuver different types missiles and are doomed to lag behind the American rearmament program, dutifully paying for the old Tridents and humbly waiting for the US military industry to deign to develop a new type of missile for nuclear submarine cruisers.

Actually, the very silence of the failed launch, which, as it turned out, happened in the summer, demonstrates how much the British crown depends on American weapons. Perhaps if the disaster had become known earlier, the Labor or Conservatives could rebel and demand that funding be redirected to develop their own modern nuclear weapons. However, at present, both old and still only designed British SSBNs are doomed in advance to Trident, whose famous reliability, which is quite relevant in the 70s of the last century, in modern realities is already starting to fail.
Victor Loginov