A Russian Borei-class ballistic-missile submarine is set to enter a new phase of testing, Interfax reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 14).
For the last month, workers have been addressing technical problems on the Yuri Dolgoruky, the Sevmash shipyard newspaper Korabel reported.
The submarine must undergo five or six sea trials before it can enter active duty, according to Interfax (Interfax, Sept. 15).
The vessel was designed to fire the Bulava ballistic missile, an experimental, nuclear-capable weapon that has failed in six of 11 flight tests to date.
The former head of the organization managing the missile's design will probably remain involved in the project even though he submitted his resignation in July, the Russian Federal Space Agency indicated yesterday.
Yuri Solomonov resigned late last month as general director and general designer of the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology.
"I am certain that Yuri Solomonov will keep his post as general designer of the Bulava and Topol-M missiles. We have told the new leadership of the institute to focus on work rather than on cadre reshuffling," RIA Novosti quoted space agency chief Anatoly Perminov as saying (RIA Novosti, Sept. 15).