Quote:
Originally Posted by ikalugin
Oberon, yes we use storable propellants.
The trade offs tend to be that liquid fueled missiles would have greater payload all other factors being the same while being somewhat more complex mechanically and having a longer burn time.
|
I guess it's that maintainence upkeep that discourages other nations from going down the liquid propellant route for things like SLBMs, that and things like K-219 as well I'd wager. The Bulava is an interesting case though since it's a three stage SLBM that uses both solid fuel and liquid fuel as propellant. Probably that complexity which coupled with manufacturing faults caused the initial high failure rate.
So what liquid fuel do the new SLBMs use? Presumably something more stable than the UDMH/NTO mixture of the R-27s?
Getting back to the DPRK, a mixture of US force is heading to the ROK this week, the Ronald Reagan and the Michigan, and a load of US aerial assets heading for a defence expo:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/nati...ampaign=buffer
The DPRK meanwhile has been playing TEL shuffle, so something might be in the offing.