Russia 111215 Basic Political Developments

One more test launch of Bulava missile to take place before year-end - source (Part 2)

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=295259
MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian defense industry has decided to conduct one more test launch of a Bulava advanced sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile before the end of the year, a Russian Navy Main Staff source told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.

"The preliminary information available to us confirms that a Bulava salvo test launch will be carried out from the Yury Dolgoruky missile carrying submarine within the period from December 25 to December 29 this year. A launch date will be set by a state commission at the beginning of next week," he said.

The authorities initially planned to postpone Bulava trials until 2012, the source said.

"But the defense industry has created all of the conditions needed to conduct a Bulava salvo launch. It concerns this missile itself, its carrier and ground-based infrastructure," he said.

He explained that two missiles would be launched from the submarine within one second of each other during the upcoming trials.

"The possibility of putting the Bulava missile into service in the Russian Navy will be considered if the test launch is successful," the source said.

The previous Bulava test launch from the Yury Dolgoruky carrier was successfully carried out on October 27. In all, there have been 17 Bulava test launches, seven of which failed.

Initially, the missile's entry in service was scheduled for 2006-2007.

The R30 3M30 "Bulava" (RSM-56 in international treaties, SS-NX-30 in NATO's classification) is the latest Russian three-stage solid-fuel missile designed for Borei Project ballistic missile submarines.

The missile is capable of carrying up to ten hypersonic, multiple, independently targetable nuclear warheads capable of changing altitude and the course of flight trajectory and hitting targets at a range of up to 8,000 kilometers. Bulava will be the main weapon in the promising group of the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces until 2040-2045.

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Fire at Vaygach nuclear icebreaker kills two in Siberia

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20111215/170257289.html
06:58 15/12/2011

KRASNOYARSK, December 15 (RIA Novosti)

Two people were killed and one injured in a fire that occurred on board the Vaygach nuclear icebreaker in east Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory early on Thursday, a local Emergencies Ministry department spokesman said.

“The fire has been extinguished,” spokesman Alexander Yakimov said.

Yakimov said there was no threat to the icebreaker’s nuclear reactor. A spokesman for the Rosatom state nuclear corporation said there was no radiation leak due to the fire.

The reasons for the fire are being established. An investigation is underway.

The 50,000-hp Vaygach was built at a Finnish shipyard on an order from the Soviet Union. It was commissioned in 1990.

07:58 15/12/2011Top News

Blaze aboard nuclear-powered icebreaker put out, two die

http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/297758.html

KRASNOYARSK, December 15 (Itar-Tass) — A fire that broke out aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker Vaigach in the mouth of Yenissei River on Thursday morning has been put out. The reactor has not been damaged and there is no threat to the environment. The radiation situation in the area of the icebreaker's location is normal, an official at the Russian Emergencies Ministry department for the Krasnoyarsk Territory (DKT) has told Itar-Tass.

Earlier, Alexander Yakimov, head of the DKT press service, said a message about the fire had reached DKT at 06:19, local time. Three cabins had been on fire.

Two people died and one was injured as a result of the fire. The ship lies up in the area of Karaul Settlement in the Territory's north.

Efforts are being made to establish what caused the fire.

The nuclear-powered icebreaker Vaigach is designed to pilot ships in the mouths of Siberian rivers. The icebreaker was built in Finland in 1990.

03:32 15/12/2011ALL NEWS

SuperJet-100 pilot training simulator becomes operational at Zhukovsky

http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/297695.html

MOSCOW, December 15 (Itar-Tass) —— a mobile pilot training simulator for the Sukhoi SuperJet-100 plane has become operational at Zhukovsky’s Aviation Personnel Training Centre, Moscow region.

“This is the first full-fledged crew training centre in Russia, organised by the plane manufacturer and fully equipped with training aides,” United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) President Mikhail Pogosyan said.

The simulator was designed by French Thales Training and Simulation. “The simulator will accelerate the training of pilots for the SuperJet,” UAC said earlier.

The first pilots trained on regular simulators, which took more time and money.

A second such mobile simulator will be installed at Aeroflot's training centre. This national air carrier has ordered the largest number of Sukhoi SuperJet-100 planes thus far.

Aeroflot is operating one Sukhoi SuperJet-100 planes, and Armenia's Armavia, two planes.

The second assembled Sukhoi SupetJet-100 was handed over to Aeroflot on June 9. The plane to be operated by Aeroflot made the first regular flight on June 16. The plane flew from Moscow to St. Petersburg to bring passengers for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, including officials from the federal government, the Transport Ministry, and Aeroflot.

Aeroflot has ordered 30 such planes and will get 10 of them in 2011, then 12 in 2012 and another eight in 2013.

The SuperJet, the first new Russian passenger plane over the past 20 years, is being created through unprecedentedly broad international cooperation that involves more than 30 major international aerospace companies, system and component suppliers.

Sukhoi SuperJet-100 integrates the world's best industry practices and solutions. All aircraft will be certified in accordance with both Russian and international requirements. SSJ100's technical and operational performance make the product fully marketable and capable of taking a solid share in the highly competitive global market. Thus, Sukhoi expects to sell 800 aircraft until the year 2024, while the global demand for the aircraft of this class totals 5,400. So far the company had secured 73 solid orders for the aircraft.

The SuperJet-100 was formerly referred to as the Russian Regional Jet, or “Sukhoi RRJ”. The name was changed on 17 July 2006. The aircraft will be equipped with two Saturn/SNECMA PowerJet SaM146 turbofans.

The Superjet-100 is intended to compete against the Antonov An-148, Embraer E-Jets and the Bombardier CSeries programs. Sukhoi CEO Mikhail Pogosyan claims the SSJ will have 10-15 percent lower operation costs than its Embraer or Bombardier counterparts and its wider cabin will offer more comfort; at the catalogue price of 27.8 million dollars, it should also be cheaper by 18-22 percent. On the other hand, both Embraer and Bombardier offer much more comprehensive after-sales and maintenance network.

SuperJet-100 will in the future provide the basis for a whole family of planes, including transport and special purpose planes. However now the main goal is the certification of the plane and serial production of 60-70 planes annually.

The project is implemented by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company created in 2000. Experts say that the SuperJet-100 project will secure Russia's leadership on the market of regional planes. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft is a subsidiary of the famous Sukhoi combat aircraft manufacturer. It was created to implement the latter's civilian projects. The chief task of the company is to develop a regional Superjet-100 plane that will replace Tu-134 liners that are now in use.

The Sukhoi SuperJet-100 family consists of two types of aircraft of basic and increased flying ranges with the carrying capacity of 75 and 95 passengers respectively.

The company is trying to make the two types of plane as universal as possible in order to increase the number of potential buyers.

The design of the plane meets the requirements applicable in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the West.

The Sukhoi SuperJet-100 plane has been designed by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft. Its shareholders are Sukhoi with 75 percent and World's Wing SA with 25 percent of shares.