Russia and world just escaped nuclear disaster?

[Lurchi]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

Wouldnt have even been like that, the SS-N-23 is a tough missile unlike its liquid fueld cousins ...

The respective missile family uses liquid fuel and they are certainly not tough. Rockets are lightly built because every bit of weight saved means more payload or fuel (=range).

I doubt if the warheads are designed to withstand a violent fuel explosion. On the other hand the K-219 incident seemingly did not result in a nuclear disaster which does not mean it cannot happen.

[Kapitan]

Originally Posted by Lurchi

The respective missile family uses liquid fuel and they are certainly not tough. Rockets are lightly built because every bit of weight saved means more payload or fuel (=range).



I doubt if the warheads are designed to withstand a violent fuel explosion. On the other hand the K-219 incident seemingly did not result in a nuclear disaster which does not mean it cannot happen.

its an unlikely outcome not totaly ruled out and yes they are liquid fueled the K219 warhead was never located but its believed intact, the problem with these missiles is the fuel doesnt react to well with sea water.
The R-29RM is a small missile compaired to its larger cousin the R-39 which is 83ton total wieght unlike the R-29RM which is 40ton which is roughly the same as trident.
R-39's have since been decomissioned as the only boats capible of carrying the missile have since all been decommissioned (typhoon class)

The russians seem to be moveing toward solid fueled missiles which makes them more stable.